LIBRARY OF CONGRFW 

■MM 

000104-^55 




Class. 
Book. 



PRESENTED BY 



THE 



VUSE &KD PROGRESS 



OF 



RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 



ILLUSTRATED 

IN A COURSE OF SERIOUS AND PRACTICAL AD- 

DRESSES, SUITED TO PERSONS OF EVERY 

CHARACTER AND CIRCUMSTANCE, 

WITH A DEVOUT MEDITATION 

AND PRAYER ADDED TO 

EACH CHAPTER. 



BY PHILIP DODDRIDGE, D. D. 



BOSTON . 

PUBLISHED BY TIMOTHY BEDL1KCT01 






ftjfr 






(f 



HILL AND MOORE, PRATERS, CdNCORB, N. H. 



M A: 



TO THE 
REV". DR. ISAAC WATTS. 

RET. AND DEAR SIR, 

WITH the most affectionate gratitude and respect, I beg 
leave to present you a book, which owes its existence to 
your request, its copiousness to your plan, and much of its 
perspicuity to your review, and to the use I made of your re- 
marks on that part of it, which your health and leisure would 
permit you to examine. I address rt to you, not to beg your 
patronage to it, for of that I am already well assured ; and 
much less from any ambition of attempting your character, 
for which, if I were more equal to the subject, I should think 
this a very improper place ; but chiefly from a secret delight 
which I find in the thought of being known to these whom 
this may reach as one whom you have honored, not only with 
your friendship, but with so much of your esteem and approba- 
tion too, as must substantially appear in your committing 
a work to me, which you had yourself projected as one of the 
most considerable services of your life. 

I have long thought the love of popular appla»se a mean- 
cess, which a philosophy far inferior to that of our Divine 
Master might have taught us to conquer ; but to be esteem- 
ed by eminently great and good men, to whom we are inti- 
mately known, appears to me, not only one of the most solid 
stations of some real worth, but next to the approbation 
of God and of our own consciences, one of its most valuable 
rewards. It wilJ, I doubt not, be found so in that world to 
h spirits like yours are tending, and for which, through 
divide grace, you have obtained so uncommon a degrce of ripe- 
And permit me, sir, while 1 write this, to refresh my- 
self with the hope,that when that union of hearts, which has so 
long subsisted between us, shall arrive to its lull maturity and 
endearment there, it will be matter of mutual delight to ro- 
ot, that you have assigned me, and that 1 have in some 
degree executed a task, which may perhaps, under the bless- 
ing of God, awaken and improve religicms sentiments in the 
Bio la of those whom we leave behind us, and of others who 
may arise after us, in this vain, transitory, ensnaring world. 

.' :h is the improvement you have made of your capacities 
for service, that I a:n full}' persuaded heaven has received 
very few in these latter ages, who have done so much to serve 



4 DEDICATION. 

its interests here below ; few, who have labored in this best 
of causes with equal assiduity and equal success. And, 
therefore, 1 cannot but join with all who wish well to the 
christian interest among us, in acknowledging 1 the goodness 
of providence to you and to the church of Christ in prolong- 
ing a life, at once so valuable and so tender, to sueh an ad- 
vanced period. With them, sir, 1 rejoice that God hath giv- 
en you to possess, in so extraordinary a degree, not only the 
consciousness of intending great benefit to the world, but the 
satisfaction of having effected it, and of seeing such an har- 
vest already springing up, I hope as an earnest of a m^ch 
more copious increase from thence. Willi multitudes more 
I hiess God, that you are not, in this evening of so afflicted, 
and yet so laborious a day, rendered entirely incapable of 
serving the public from the press, and from the pulpit ; and 
that amidst the pain which your active- spirit feels, when 
those pleasing services suffer long interruptions from bodily 
weakness, it may be so singularly refreshed by reflecting oa 
that sphere of extensive usefulness, in which by your writing* 
you continually move. 

I congratulate you^ dear sir, that while you are in a niulti* 
tu4e of families and schools of the louver class, condescending 
to the humble, yet important work of forming iafant mind* 
to the first rudiments of religious knowledge and devout im- 
pressions, by your various Catechisms and divine Songs, yoti 
"<re also daily reading Lectures on Logic, and other branch* 
cs of philosophy, to studious yofith ; and this not only in pri- 
vate academies, but in the most public celebrated seats of 
learning ; not merely in Scotland, and in our American col- 
ocies, (where, from some peculiar considerations it might 
most naturally be expected;) but through the amiable can- 
dor of some excellent men and accomplished tu$ors, in our 
English universities too. I congratulate you, that you are 
teaching, no doubt, hundreds of mioisters, and thousands of 
private christians, by your sermons and other theological 
writings: so happily calculated to diffuse through their minds 
that light of knowledge, and through their hearts that fervor 
of piety, which God has been pleased^ to enkindle in your 
own. But. above all, I congratulate you, that by your sacred 
pcofcry, especially by your Psalms and you Hymns, you are 
leading the worship, and, I trust, also animating the devotion 
of myriads, in our public assemblies every sabbath, and in 
their families or closets every day. This, sir, at least so far 
as it relates to the service of the sanctuary, is an unparallel- 
ed favor by which God hath been pleased to distinguish you, 
I may boldly say it, beyond any of his servants now upon 
earth. Well may it be esteemed a glorious equivalent, and 



DEDICATION. 5 

indeed much more than equivalent for all those views of ec- 
c'lCsiastica*' preferment, to which such talents, learning, vir- 
tues, and interest, mig-ht have entitled you in an establish- 
ment ; and 1 doubt not but you joyfully accept it as such. 

Nor is it easy to conceive in what circumstances you could 
on. any supposition, have been easier aud happier than in that 
pious and truly honorable family, in which as I verily believe, 
ia special indulgence both to you and it, providence has been 
pleased to appoint that you should spend so considerable a 
part of your life. It is my earnest prayer, that all the re- 
mainder of it may be serene, useful and pleasant. And as, 
to my certain knowledge, your compositions have been the 
singular comfort of many excellent christians (some of- tbem 
numbered among my dearest friends) on their dying bed ; for 
I have heard stanzas of them repeated from the lips of sever- 
al, who were, doubtless, in a few hours to begin the Song of 
Moses and the •jnmb; so I hope and trust, that when God 
shall call you to that salvation, for which your faith and pa- 
tience hath so long been waiting, he will shed around you 
the choicest beams of his favor, and gladden your heart with 
consolations, like those which you have been the happy in- 
strument of administering to others. 

In the mean time, sir, be assured thai I am not a little an- 
imated in the various labors to which providence has called 
me, by reflecting that I have such a cotemporary, and espe- 
cially such a friend ; whose single presence would be to me 
as that of a cloud of witnesses here below, to awaken my 
alacrity in the race that is set before me. And I am per- 
suaded, that while I say this, I speak the sentiments of many 
of my brethren, even of various denominations ; a considera- 
tion which 1 hope will do something towards reconciling a 
heart so generous as yours, to the delay of that exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory, which is now so nearly approaching. 
Yes, my honored Friend, you will, I hope, cheerfully endure 
a little longer continuance in life amidst all its infirmities: 
from an assurance, that while God is pleased to maintain the 
exeicise of your reason, it is hardly possible that you should 
live in vain, to the world, or to youiself. Ever)' day and ev- 
ery trial is brightening your crown, and rendering you still 
more meet for an inheritance among the saints in light. Ev- 
ery word that you drop from the pulpit has now, surely, its 
peculiar weight ; the eyes of many are on their ascending 
prophet, eagerly intent tfiat they may catch, if Dot his man- 
tle, at lea livine sentence from his lips, which niav 
lo*g guide Uieir ways and their hearts. This solicitude your 
friends bring into those happy moments in which they are fa- 
vored with your converse in private ; and when you are re- 
A : 



e DEDICATION. 

tired from them, your prayers, I doubt not, largely contrib* 
ute towards guarding 1 yoar country, watering- the church, and 
blessing" the world. Lsng may they continue to answer 
these great ends ! And permit me, sir, to conclude; with ex- 
pressing my cheerful confidence, that in those best moments 
you are often particularly mindful of one, who so highly es- 
teems, so greatly needs, and so warmly returns ihat remem- 
brance, as, 

Rererend and dear sir, 

Your most affectionate brother, 
and obliged humble servant, 

P. DODDRIDGE. 
Northampton, Dec, 13, 1744. 



PYl&FACfc. 



THE several bints given in the Dedication^ and the first 
chapter of this Treatise, which contains a particular plan of 
the design, render it unnecessary to introduce it with a long 
preface. Some of my readers may perhaps remember, that 
several years ago, I promised this work to the public, in the 
preface to the second edition of my sermons on the power and 
grace of Christ, &c. My much honored friend Dr. Watts 
had laid the scheme, especially of the former part. But as 
those indispositions, with which (to the unspeakable grief of 
the churches) God has been pleased to exercise hirn, had for- 
bid his hopes of being" able to add tJiis to his many labors of 
love to immortal souls, he was pleased in a very affectionate 
afld importunate manner, to urge me to undertake it And I 
bless Gjd, with my whole heart, not only that he hath carried 
me through this delightful task (for such indeed I have found 
it) but also that be bath spared that worthy and amiable per- 
son to see it accomplished, and given him strength and spirit 
to review so considerable a part of it. His approbation ex- 
pressed ia stronger terms than modesty will permit me to re- 
peat, encourages me to hope that it is executed in such a 
manner as may, by the divine blessing, render it of 6ome gen- 
eral service. And I the rather hope it will be so, as it bow 
comes abroad into the world, not only with my own prayers 
and his,but also with those of many other pious friends,which 
I have been particularly careful to engage for its success. 

Into whatever hatids this work may come, I must desire, 
that, before any pass their judgment, they would plense to 
read it through, that they may discern the connection be- 
tween one part of it and another. Which I the rather re- 
quest, because I have lon^ observed, that christians of differ- 
ent parties have been eagerly laying hold on particular parts 
of the system of divine truth, and have been contending 
about them ; as if each had been all ; or as if the separation 
of the members from each other, and from the head, were the 
preservation of the body, instead of its destruction. They 
hare been zealous to espouse the defence, and to maintain 
the honor and usefulness of each apart, whereas their honor 
as well as usefulness, seems to me to lie much in their con- 
nection ; and suspicions have often arisen betwixt the res- 
pective defenders of each, which have appeared as unreason- 



Z PREFACE. 

able and absurd as if all the preparations for securing one 
part of a ship in a storm were to be censured as a contrivance 
to sink the rest. I pray God to give tG all the ministers and 
people more and more of the spirit of wisdom, and of love, 
and of a sound mind ; and to remove far from us those mutu- 
al jealoesies and animosities, which hinder our acting with 
that unanimity which is necessary in order to the successful 
carrying on our common warfare against the enemies of 
Christianity. We may be sure these enemies will never fail 
to make their own advantage of our multiplied divisions and 
severe contests with each other. But they must necessarily 
lose both their ground and their influence in proportion to 
the degree in which the energy of christian principles is felt, 
to unite and transform the hearts of those by whom they are 
professed. 

I take this opportunity of adding, that, as this Treatise may 
be looked upon as the sequel of my sermons on regeneration, 
though in something of a different method, 1 have been solici- 
tous to make them both as cheap as possib!e,that I may fall in 
with the charitable designs of those who may purpose so give 
them away. There is, however, an edition of this treatise in 
octavo, for such as rather choose to have it in a larger char- 
acter, and fairer form. 

I have studied the greatest plainness of speech, that the 
lowest of my readers may, if possible, be able to understand 
every word ; and, I hope, persons of a more elegant taste and 
refined education, will pardon what appeared to me so neces- 
sary a piece of charity. Such a care in practical writers, 
seems one important instance of that honoring all men, 
which our amiable and condescending religion teaches ; and 
I have been particularly obliged to my worthy patron, for 
what he hath done to shorten some of the sentences, and to 
put my meaning into plainer and more familiar words. Yet 
I dare say, the world will not suspect it of having contracted 
an impropriety or inelegance of language by passing through 
the hands of Dr. Watts. 

I must add one remark here, which I heartily wish I had 
not omitted in the first edition^ viz. — That though I do in this 
book consider my reader as successively in a great variety of 
supposed circumstances, beginning with those of a thought- 
less sinner and leading him through several stages of convic- 
tion, terror, &c. as what may be previous to his sincerely ac- 
cepting the gospel, and devoting himself to the service of 
God ; yet I would by no means be thought to insinuate, that 
every pne who is brought to that happy resolution, arrives 
at it through thjose particular steps, or feels agitations of 
miad equal, in any degree, to those I have described. Some 



PREFACE. 3 

sense of sin, and some serious and humbling; apprehension, 
o/our danger and misery in consequence of it, must indeed be 
necessary, to dispose us to receive the grace of the gospel, 
and the Savior who is thete exhibited to our faith ; but God 
is pleased sometimes to begin the work of his grace on the 
heart almost from the first dawning of reason, and to carry 
it on by such gentle and insensible degrees, that vary excel- 
lent persons, who have made the most eminent attainments 
id the divine life, have been unable to recount any remarka- 
ble history of their conversion. And so far as I can leara f 
this is mo*t frequently the case with those of them who have 
enjoyed the benefits of a pious education, when it has hot been 
succeeded by a vicious and licentious youth.. God forbid, 
therefore, that any should be so insensible of their own hap- 
piness as to fall into perplexity with relatijn to their spiritual 
state, for wast ef being ?ble to trace such a rise of religion in 
ttoeir minds as it was necessary, on my plan, for me to des- 
cribe and exemplify here. I have spoken my sentiments en 
this head so fully in^the Vlllth of my sermons on Regenera- 
tion^ that I think none who has read, and remembers the gen- 
eral contents of it, can be in danger of mistaking my mean- 
ing here. Cut as it is very possible this book may fall into 

the hands 01 n%~~- ~ l ~ l ~~o no * ' «» ?..~*V- 

- —.—j truKj ua»w — »• *oou imc uuicr, arm nave T\0 

tfpp^rt'jnitjgf consulting it, J thought proper to insert this 

caution in the preface to this ; and I am much obliged to that 

worthy and excellent person who kindly reminded me of tbfc 

expediency of doing it. 



COKTEKTS. 



CHAP. L— the introduction to the work with seme 
general account of its design. 13 

A prayer for the success of this work, in the promoting 
the rise and progress of religion. 21 

CHAP. II. — The careless sinner awakened. 23 

The meditation of a sinner, who was once thoughtless, 
but begins to be awakened. 31 

C^AP. III.— The awakened sinner urged to immediate 
^consideration, and cautioned against delay. 33 

A prayer for one who is tempted to delay applying t© re- 
ligion, though under some convictions of its impor- 
tance. 39 

CHAP. IV. — The sinner arraigned and convicted. 41 

The confession of a sinasr, convinced is general of his 
guilt. 49 

CHAP. V.— The sinner stripped of his vain pleas. 52 

Tke medication of a convinced sinner, giving up his vain 
pleas before God. 59 

CHAP. VI.- -The sinner sentenced. 61 

The reflection of a sinner struck with the terror of his 
sentence. 67 

CHAP. VII. — The helpless state of a sinner under con- 
demnation. 69 

The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition; 73 

CHAP. VIII.— News of salvation by Christ, brought to 
the convinced and condemned sinner. 75 

The sinner's reflection on this good news. 80 

CHAP. IX.— A more particular account of the way by 
which this salvation is to be obtained. 82 

The sinner deliberating on the expediency of falling in 
with the method of salvation. 89 

CHAP. X. — The sinner seriously urged and entreated 
to accept of salvation in this way. 91 

The sinner yielding to those entreaties, and declaring 
his acceptance of salvation by Christ. 90 

CHAP. XL — A solemn address* to those who will not be 
persuaded to fall in with the design of the gospel. 98 

A compassionate prayer in behalf of the impenitent *in- 
aer. 109 



CONTENTS. xi 

PAGE. 

CHAP. XII. — An address te a soul overwhelmed with 
a sense of the greatness of its 61bs, that it dares not 
apply itself to Christ with any hope of salvation. Ill 

Reflection on those encouragement* he has to do it, end- 
ing in an humble and earnest application to Christ for 
mercy. 115 

CHAP. XIII. — The doubting soul more particularly as- 
sisted in its inquiries as to the sincerity of its faith and 
repentance. 118 

The s-nil submitting to divine examination, the sincerity 

of its repentance and faith. 123 

CHAP. XIV. — A more particular view of the several 
branches of the christian temper ; by which the read- 
er may be farther assisted in judging what he is, and 
what he should endeavor to be. 125 

A review of the several branches of this temper in a . 
scriptural prayer. 136 

CHAP. XV. — The reader reminded how much he needs 
the assistance of the spirit of God to form him to this 
temper, and what encouragement he has to expect 
from it. 13d 

An humble supplication for the influence of divine grace 
to form and strengthen religion in the soul. 144 

CHAP. XVI. — The christian convert warned of, and an- 
imated against, those discouragements which he must 

V expect to meet, when entering on a religious course. 146 

The soul alarmed by a sense of these difficulties, com- 
mitting itself to divine protection. 150 

CHAP, XVII. — The christian urged to, a»d assisted in, 
an express act of self-dedication to the service of God, 152 

An example of self-dedication ; or, a solemn form of re- 
newing our covenant wUh God. 155 

Together with an abstract of it, to be used with proper 
and requisite alterations. 169 

CHAP. XVIII. — Of entering into church communion, by 
attending upon the Lord's supper. 161 

A prayer for one who desires to attend, yet has some re- 
maining doubts, concerning his right to that solemn 
ordinance. 16$ 

CHAP. XIX. — Some particular directions for maintain- 
ing continual communion with God, or being in his 
fear all the day long, in a letter to a pious friend. 169 

rious view of deatb, proper to be taken as we Jie 
down en our beds. 182 

CHAP. X\. — A serious persuasive to such a method of 
spending our days. 134 



xti CONTENTS. 

A prayer suited to the state of a soul who longs to attain 

to such a life. 191 

CHAP. XXL — A caution against various temptations, 
by wbich the young* convert may be drawn aside from 
the course before reoommended. 194 

The yourg convert's prayer for divine protection from 
the d artige r of these snares. 202 

CHAR XXIT. — The case of a spiritual decay and Ian* 
guor in religicn. 204 

A prayer for one under spiritual deeays. 211 

CHAP. XXIII. — The sad case of a relapse into known 
and deliberate sin, after solemn acts of dedication to 
God, and some progress . made ?n religion. " 214 

A prayer for one who has fallen into gross sin, after reli- 
gious resolutions and engagements. 221 

CHAP. XXIV.— The case of the christian under the 
hidings o( God'* face. 224 

An humble supplication for one under the hidings of 
God's face. 234 

CHAP. XXV. — The christian struggling under great 
and heavy afflictions. 236 

An address to God under the pressure of heavy afflic- 
tions. 240 

CHAP. XXVI. — The christian assisted in examining in- 
to his growth in grace. 243 

The christian breathing earnestly after growth in grace. 231 

CHAP. XXVII. — The advanced " christian reminded of 
the mercies of God, and exhorted to the exercise of 
habitual love to him, and joy in him. 253 

An example of the genuine workings of ftiis grateful joy 
in God. 258 

CHAP. XXVIII.-— The established christian urged to ex- 
ert himself for the purposes of usefulness. 262 

The christian breathing after more extensive usefulness. 271 

CHAP. XXIX.r-The christian rejoicing in the views of 
death and judgment. 273 

The meditation and prayer ef a christian whose hearty is 
warmed with these prospects. 201 

CHAP. XXX.— The christian honoring .God by his dy- 
ing behaviours 282 

A meditation and prayer suited to the case of a dying 
christian. 20© 



THE 
RISE AND PROGRESS 

OF 

MIAGIOK IK THE S013L. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK, WITH SOME GENER* 
AL ACCOUNT OF ITS DESIGN. 

That true religion is very rare, appears from comparing the nature of 
it with the lives and characters of men around us, 1, 2. The want 
ef it matter of just lamentation, 3. To remedy this evil is the de- 
sign of the ensuing treatise, 4. To which, therefore, the Author 
earnestly bespeaks the attention of the reader, as his own heart is 
deeply interested in it, 5, B. A general plan of the work, of which 
the fifteen first chapters relate chiefly to the Rise of religion, and 
the remaining chapters to its Progress, 7—12. The chapter con- 
cludes with a prayer for the success of the work. 

1. WHEN we look round about us with an attentive 
eye, and consider the characters and pursuits of men, 
we pbunly see, that though, in the original constitution 
of their natures, they only, of all the creatures that 
dwell on the face of the earth, be capable cf religion, 
yet many of them shamefully neglect it And what- 
ever different notions people may entertain of what 
they call religion, all must agree in owning, that it is 
very far from being an universal thing. 

2. Religion, in its most general view, is such a sense 
of God on the soul, and such a conviction of our obli- 
gations to him, and cf our dependence upon him, as 
shall engage us to make it cur great care to conduct 
ourselves in a maimer which we have reason to be- 

B 



14 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

lieve will be pleasing (o him. New, when we have 
given this plain account of religion, it is by no means 
necessary that we should search among the savages of 
the African or American nations to find instances of 
those who are strangers to it When we view the 
conduct of the generality of people at home, in a 
Christian and Protestant nation, in a nation whose obli- 
gations to God have been singular, almost beyond those 
of any othar people under heaven, will any one pre- 
sume to say, that religion has an universal reign among 
us 2 will any one suppose that it prevails in every life? 
that it reigns in every heart? Alas! the avowed infi- 
delity, the profanation of the name and day of God, 
the drunkenness, the lewdness, the injustice, the false- 
hood, the pride, the prodigality, the base selfishness, 
the stupid insensibility of the spiritual and eternal in- 
terests of themselves and others, which so generally 
appear among us, loudly proclaim the contrary. So 
that one would imagine, upon this view that thousands 
and ten thousands thought the neglect, and even the 
contempt, of religion, were a glory rather than a re- 
proach. And where is the neighborhood, where is the 
society, where is the happy family, (consisting of any 
considerable number,) in which, on a more exact exam- 
ination, we find reason to say, " Religion fills even this 
little circle I" There is, perhaps, a freedom from any 
gross and scandalous immoralities, an external decen- 
cy of behaviour, an attendance on the outward forms 
of worship in public, and (here and there) in the fami- 
ly; yet amidst all this, there is nothing, which looks 
like the genuine actings of the spiritual and divine life. 
There is no appearance of love to God, no reverence 
for his presence, no desire of his favor as the highest 
good ; there is no cordial belief of the gospel of sal- 
vation, no eager solicitude to escape that condemnation, 
which we have incurred by sin ; no hearty concern to 
secure that eternal life which Christ has purchased and 
secured for his people, and which he freely promises 
to all who will receive him. Alas ! whatever the love 
of a friend, or even of a parent can do ; whatever in- 
clination there maybe to hope all things and believe all 
things, the most favorable : Evidence to the contrary 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 15 

will force itself upon the mind, and extort the unwilling 
conclusion, That, whatever else ma}' be amiable in this 
dear friend, in that favorite child, " religion dwells not 
in its breast." 

3. To a heart that firmly believes the gospel, and 
views persons and things in the light of eternity, this 
is one of the most mournful considerations in the world. 
And indeed to such a one, all the other calamities and 
evils of human nature appear trifles when compared 
with this, the absence of real religion, and that contra- 
riety to it, which reigns in so many thousands of man- 
kind. Let this be cured, and all the other evils will 
easily be borne ; nay, good will be extracted out of 
them ; but if this continue, it bringeth forth fruit unto 
death: And, inconsequence of it, multitudes, who share 
the entertainments of a» indulgent Providence with us, 
and are at least allied to us by the bond of the same 
common nature, must in a few years be swept away in- 
to utter de&truetion^ and be plunged beyond redemption 
into everlasting burnings. 

4. I doubt not but that there are many under those 
various forms of religious profession, which have so 
unhappily divided us in this nation, who are not only 
lamenting this in public, if their office in life calls them 
to an opportunity of doing it, but are likewise mourn- 
ing before God in secret under a sense of this sad state 
of things ; and who vm appeal to him that searches 
all hearts, as to the sincerity of their desires to revive 
the languishing cause of vital Christianity and substan- 
tial piety, and, among the rest, the author of this trea- 
tise, may, with confidence, say, It is this which animates 
him to the present attempt, in the midst of so many 
other cares and labors ; for this, he is willing to lay aside 
many of the curious amusements in science which 
might suit his own private taste, and perhaps open a 
way to some reputation in the learned world : For this* 
he is willing to wave the labored ornaments of speech, 
that he may, if possible, descend to the capacity of 
the lowest part of mankind . For this, he would en- 
deavor to convince the judgment, and to reach the 
heart of every reader: And, in a word, for this, with- 
out any dread of the name of an enthusiast, whoever 



16 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

may at random throw it out upon the occasion, he 
would, as it were, enter with you into your closet from 
day to day, and with all plainness and freedom, as well 
as seriousness, would discourse to you of the great 
things which he has learnt from the Christian revela- 
tion^ and on which he assuredly knows your everlasting 
happiness to depend : That if yon hitherto have lived 
without religion, you may now be awakened to the 
consideration of it, and may be instructed in its nature 
and importance ; or that, if you are already, through 
divine grace, experimentally acquainted with it, you 
may be assisted to make a greater progress. 

5. But he earnestly intreats this favor of you, that 
as it is plainly a serious business we aie entering upon, 
you would be pleased to give him a serious and atten- 
tive hearing. He intreats that these addresses, and 
these meditations, may be perused at leisure, and be 
thought over in retirement ; and that you would do 
him and yourself the justice to believe the representa- 
tions which are here made, and the warnings which 
are here given, to proceed from sincerity and love ; 
from an heart which would not designedly give one 
moments unnecessary pain to the meanest creature on 
the face of the earth, and much less to any human 
mind. If he be importunate, it is because he at least 
imagines that there is just reason for it; and fears, lest 
amidst the multitudes who are undone by the utter neg- 
lect of religion, and among those who are greatly dam- 
aged for want of a more resolute and constant atten- 
dance to it, this may be the case of some into whose 
hands this treatise may full. 

6, He is a barbarian, and deserves not to be called a 
man, who can look on the sorrows of his feilow-crea- 
tures without drawing out his soul unto them, and wish- 
ing at least, that it were in the power of his hand to 
help them. Surely earth would be an heaven to that 
man who could go about from place "to place, scatter- 
ing happiness wheresoever he came, though it were 
only the body that he were capable of relieving, and 
though he could impart nothing better than the happi- 
ness of a mortal life. But the happiness rises in pro- 
portion to the nature and degree of the good which he 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 17 

imparts. Happy, are we ready to pay, were those hon- 
ored servants of Christ, who in the early days of his 
church were the benevolent and sympathizing instru- 
ments of conveying miraculous healing to those whose 
cases seemed desperate ; w T ho poured in upon the blind 
and the deaf, the pleasures of light andsourd, and cal- 
led up the dead to the powers of action and enjoyment. 
But this is an honor and happiness which it is not fit 
for God commonly to bestow on mortal men. Yet there 
have been in every age, and blessed be his name, there 
are still those, whom he has condescended to make his 
instruments in conveying noble and more lasting bles- 
sings than these to th«ir fellow creatures. Death hath 
long since veiled the eyes and stopped the ears of those 
who were the subjects of miraculous healing, and re- 
covered its empire over those who were once recalled 
from the grave. But the souls who are prevailed on 
to receive the gospel live forever. God has owned* 
the labors of his faithful ministers in every age to pro- 
duce those blessed effects ; and some of them being 
dead, yet speaketh with power and success in this impor- 
tant cause. Wonder not then if, living and dying, I be 
ambitious of this honor ; and if my mouth be freely open* 
id, where I can truly say, my heart is enlarged. 

7. In forming my general plan, I have been solicit- 
ous that this little treatise might, if possible, be useful to 
all its readers, and contain something suitable to each. I 
will therefore take the man, and the christian*, in a 
great variety of circumstances. I will first suppose 
myself addressing one of the vast number of thought- 
less creatures, who have hitherto been utterly uncon- 
cerned about religion, and will try what can be done 
by all plainness and earnestness of address, to awaken 
him from his fatal lethargy, to a care (chap. 2.) an af- 
fectionate and immediate care about it, (chap. 3.) I will 
labor to fix a deep and awful conviction of guilt upon 
hfs conscience, (chap. 4.) and to strip him of his vain 
excuses and his flattering hopes, (chap. 5.) I will read 
to him, oh ! that I could fix on his heart, that sentence, 
that dreadful sentence, which a righteous and an Al- 
mighty God hath denounced against him as a sinner- 
B2 



18 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

(chap 6) and endeavor to show him in how helpless 
a state he lies under this condemnation, as to any ca- 
pacity he has of delivering himself, (chap. 7.) But I do 
not mean to leave any in so terrible a situation ! I will 
joyfully proclaim the glad tidings of pardon and salva- 
tion by Christ Jesus our hord % which is all the support 
and confidence of my own soul; (chap. 7.) and then I 
will give some general view of the way by which this 
salvation is to be obtained; (chap. 9.) urging the sin- 
ner to accept of it as affectionately as I can, (chap. 10.) 
though nothing can be sufficiently pathetic, where, as 
in this matter, the life of an immortal soul is in ques- 
tion. 

8. Too probable it is, that some will, after all this, 
remain insensible ; and therefore, that their sad case 
may not incumber the following articles*. I shall here 
take a solemn leave of them ; (chap. 11.) and then 

^hall tarn and address myself, as compassionately as I 
can to a most contrary character; I mean to a soul over- 
whelmed with a sense of the greatness of its sins 5 and 
trembling under the burden as if there were no more 
hope for hins in God, (chap. 12.) And that nothing may be 
omitted which may give solid peace to the troubled spir- 
it, 1 shall endeavor to guide its inquiries as to the eviden- 
ces of sincere repentance and faith ; (chap. IS.) which 
will be farther illustrated by a more particular view 
of the several branches of the Christian temper, such 
as may serve at once to assist the reader in judging 
what he is, and to shew him what he should labor to 
be, (chap. 14.) This will naturally lead to a view e>f 
the need we ha^e of the influences of the blessed Spir- 
it to assist us in the important and difficult work of the 
true Christian ; and of the encouragement we have 
to hope for these divine assistances, (chap, 15.) In an 
hunYble dependance on which I shall then enter on the 
consideration of several cases, which often occur in 
the christian life., in which particular addresses to the 
conscience may be requisite and useful. 

9. As some peculiar difficulties and discduragements 
attend the first entrance on a religious course, it will 
here be our first care to animate the young convert 
against them, (chap. 16.) And that it may be done 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 19 

more effectually, I shall urge a solemn dedication of 
himself to God, (chap. 17.) to be confirmed by enter- 
ing into the full communion of the church by an ap- 
proach to the sacred table, (chap. 18.) That these en- 
gagements may be more happily fulfilled, we shall en* 
deavor to draw a more particular plan of that devout, 
regular, and accurate course which ought daily to be 
attended to; (chap. 19.) and because the idea will 
proba&ly rise so much higher than what is the gener- 
al practice, even of good men, we shall endeavor to 
persuade the reader to make the attempt, hard as it 
ma^ seem, (chap. 20.) and shall caution him agaiast 
various temptations, which might otherwise draw him 
aside to negligence and sin, (chap. 21.) 

10. Happy will it be for the reader, if these exhor- 
tations and cautions be attended to with becoming re- 
gard ; but, as it is, alas! too probable, that, notwith- 
standing all, the infirmities of nature will sometimes 
prevail, we shall consider the case of deadness and 
languor in religion, which often steals upon us by in- 
sensible degrees, (chrip. 22.) from whence there is too 
easy a passage to that terrible one of a return unto 
known and deliberate sin, (chap. 23.) And as the one or 
the other of these tends in a proportionable degree, to 
provoke the blessed God to hide his face, and his injur- 
ed Spirit to withdraw, that melancholy condition will 
be taken into a particular survey, (chap. 24.) T shall 
then take notice also of the case of great and heavy 
afflictions in life, (chap. 25.) a discipline which the best 
of men have reason to expect, especially when they 
backslide from God, and yield to their spiritual ene- 
mies. 

11. Instances of this kind, will, I fear, be too fre- 
quent ; yet, 1 trust, there will be many other®, whose 
path, like the dawning light, will shine more and more im- 
to the perfect day. And therefore we shall endeavor, 
in the best manner we can, to assist the christian in 
passing a true judgment on the growth ef grace in his 
heart, (chap. 26.) as we had done before in judging of 
its sincerity. And as nothing conduces more to the 
advancement of grace than the lively exercise of love 
to God, a holy joy in him, we shall here remind the re- 



20 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

al Christian- of those mercies which tend to excite that 
love and joy (chap. "27.) and, in the views of them, to 
animate him to those vigorous efforts of usefulness in 
life which so well become 4iis character, and will have 
so happy an eficacy in brightening his crown, (chap. 
28.) Supposing him to act accordingly, we shall then 
labor to illustrate and assist the delight with which he 
may look forward to the awful solemnities of death 
and judgment, (chap. 29,) and shall close the scene by 
accompanying him, as it were, to the nearest confines 
of that dark valley, through which he is to pass to glo- 
ry ; giving him such directions as may seem most sub- 
servient to his honoring God, and adorning religion, by 
his dying behaviour, (chap. 30.) Nor am I without a 
pleasing hope, that through the divine blessing and 
grace, I may be ia some instances, so successful as to 
leave those triumphing in the views of judgment and 
eternity, and glorifying God by a truly Christian life 
and death, whom I found trembling in the apprehen- 
sions of future misery : or perhaps in a much more 
dangerous and miserable circumstance than that; I 
mean entirely forgetting the prospect, and sunk into 
the most stupid insensibility ot those things, for an at- 
tendance to which the human mind was formed, and in 
comparison of which all the pursuits of this transitory 
life are emptier than wind, and lighter than a feather. 

12. Such a variety of heads must, to be sure, be 
handled but briefly, as we intend to bring them within 
the bulk of a moderate volume. I shall not, therefore, 
discuss them as a preacher might properly do in ser- 
mons, in which the truths of religion are professedly 
to be explained and taught, defended and improved, in 
a wide variety, and long detail of propositions, argu- 
ments, objections, replies and inferences marshalled, 
and numbered, under their distinct generals. I shall 
here speak in a looser and freer manner, as a friend to 
a friend ; just as I would do if I were to be in person 
admitted to a private audience by one whom I tenderly 
loved, and whose circumstance and character I knew 
to be like that which the title of one chapter or anoth- 
er of this treatise describes. And when I have dis- 
coursed with hina a little while, which will seldom be 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. %\ 

so long as half an hour, I shall, as it were, step aside 
and leave him to meditate on what he has heard', or 
endeavor to assist him in such fervent addresses to God 
as it may be proper to mingle with those meditations. 
In the mean time, I will here take the liberty to pray 
over my reader and my work, and to commend it sol- 
emnly to the divine blessing, in token of my deep con- 
viction of an entire dependance upon it. And I am 
well persuaded, that sentiments like thesie are common, 
in the general, to erery faithful minister, to every real 
Christian. 



A Prayer for the Success of this wSrk, in promoting th$ 
Rise and Progress of Religion. 

OH thou great eternal Original, and Author of all cre- 
ated bfeing and happiness 1 I adore thee, who hast 
made a creature capable of religion and hast bestow- 
ed this dignity aad felicity upon our nature, that it may 
be taught to say, Where is God our maker? I lament 
that degeneracy spread over the whole human race 
which has turned our glory into shame, and has render- 
ed the forge tfulness of God, (unnatural as it is) so corn- 
men, and so universal a disease. Holy Father, we 
know it is thy presence, and thy teaching alone, that 
can reclaim thy wandering children; can impress a 
sense of divine things on the heart, and render that 
sense lasting and effectual. From thee proceed all 
good purposes and desires ; and this desire above ail, 
of diffusing wisdom, piety and happiness in this world, 
which (though sunk in such deep apostacy) thine in- 
finite mercy has not utterly forsaken. 

Thou knowest, Lord, the hearts of the children of 
men ; aad an upright soul, in the midst of ail the cen- 
sures and suspickas it may meet with, rejoices in thine 
intimate knowledge of its most secret sentiments and 
principles of action. Thou knowest the sincerity and 
fervency with which thine unworthy servant desires 
to spread the knowledge of thy name and the savor of 
thy gospel, among all to whom this work may reach. 
Thou knowest that hadst thou given him an abundance 



22 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

of this.world, it would have been, in his esteem, the 
noblest pleasure that abundance could haTe afforded to 
have been thine almoner, in distributing thy bounties 
to the indigent and necessitous, and so causing the sor- 
rowful heart to rejoice in thy goodness dispensed 
through his hands. Thou knowest, that hadst thou 
given him either by ordinary or extraordinary methods, 
the gift of healing, it would hare been his daily delight 
to relieve the pains, the maladies, and the infirmities 
of men's bodies ; to have seen the languishing counte- 
nance brightened by returning health and cheerful- 
ness; and much more to have beheld the roving, dis- 
tracted mind reduced to calmness and serenity, in the 
exercise of its rational faculties. Yet happier, far 
happier, will he think himself, in those humble cir- 
cumstances in which thy Providence hath placed him, 
if thou vouchsafe to honor these his feeble endeavors 
as the^means of relieving and enriching men's minds ; 
of recovering them from the madness ©fa sinful state, 
and bringing back thy reasonable creatures to the 
knowledge, the service, and the enjoyment ef their 
Sod ; or of improving those who are already reduced. 
O may it have that blessed influence on the person, 
whomsoever he be, that is now reading these lines, and 
on all who may read or hear them ! Let not my Lord 
be angry, if 1 presume to ask, that however weak and 
contemptible this work may seem in the eyes of the 
children of this world, and however imperfect it really 
be, as well as the author of it unworthy, it may never- 
theless, live before thee ; and through a divine p©wer, 
be mighty to produce the rise and progress of religion 
in the minds of multitudes, in distant places, and in 
generations yet to come ! Impute it not, O God, as a 
culpable ambition, if 1 desire, that whatever becomes 
of my name about which i would not lose one thought, 
before thee, that work, to which I a» now applying 
myself in thy strength, maybe completed, and propaga- 
ted far abroad ; that it may reach to those that are yet 
unborn, and teach them thy i ame and thy praise, when 
the author has long dwelt in the dust : That so, when 
he shall appear before/ thee in the great day of final 
account 3 his joy may be increased, and his crown 



Or RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 23 

brightened, by numbers before unknown to each other 
syid to him : But if this petition be too great to be 
granted to one who pretends no claim, but thy sove- 
reign grace, to hope for being favored with the least, 
give him to be, in thine Almighty hand, the blessed in- 
strument of converting and saving one soul ; And if it 
be but one, and that the weakest and meanest of those 
who are capable ©f receiving this address, it shall be 
most thankfully accepted as a rich recompense for all 
the thought and labour it may cost ; and though it 
should be amidst a thousand disappointments with res- 
pect to others, yet it shall be the subject of immortal 
songs ot praise to thee, Oh blessed God, for and by ev- 
ery soul, whom, through the blood of Jesus, and the 
grace of thy Holy Spirit, thou hast saved : And ever- 
lasting honors shall be ascribed to the Father, and to 
the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, by fhe innumerable 
compaay of angels, and by the general assembly and 
church of the first-born in heaven. Amen. 



CHAP. II. 

THE CARELESS SINNER AWAKENED, 

It is too supposeable a case that this treatise may come into such hands, 
^ 2. Since many not grossly vicious, fall under that character, 3, 4. 
A more particular illustration of this case with an appeal to the read- 
er whether it be not his own, 5, 6. Expostulation with such, 7 — 9 \ 
more particularly, (1.) From acknowledged principles, relating to 
the nature of God, his universal presence, agency and perfections, 
10 — 12. (2.) From a view of personal obligations to him, 13. (3.) 
From the danger of this neglect, when .considered in its aspect on a 
future state, 14. An appeal to the conscience, as already convinced, 
15. Transition to the subject of the next chapter, 16. The medita- 
tion of a sinner, wh©, having been long thoughtless, begins to b€ 
awakened. 

1. SHAMEFULLY and fatally as religion is neglect- 
ed in the world, yet, blessed be God, it has gome sin- 
cere disciples ; children of wisdom, by whom, even in 
this foolish and degenerate age, it is justified ; who 
having by divine grace, been brought to the kn@wledge 
of God in Christ, have faithfully devoted their hearts 



-24 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to him, and by a natural consequence, are devoting 
their lives to his service. Could I be sure this treatise 
would /all into no other hands b«t theirs, my work 
would be shorter, easier* and pleasanter, 

2. But, among the thousands that neglect religion, 
it is more than possible that some of my readers may be 
included : and I am so deeply affected with their un- 
happy case, that the temper of my heart, as well as 
the proper method ©f my subject, leads me in the first 
place, to address myself to seen ; to apply to every one 
of them, and therefore to you, O reader, whoever you 
are, who may com* under the denomination of a care- 
less sinner. 

3. Be not, I beseech you, angry at the name. The 
physicians of souls must speak plainly, or they iray 
murder those whwm they should cure. I would make 
no harsh and unreasonable suppositions. I wculd 
charge you with nothing more than is absolutely neces- 
sary to convince you that you are the person to whom I 
speak. I will net, therefore, imagine you to be a pro- 
fane and abandoned profligate. I will not suppose that 
you allow yourself to blaspheme God, to dishonor his 
name by customary swearing, or grossly to violate the 
Sabbath, or commonly to neglect the solemnities of his 
public worship : I will net imagine that you have in. 
jured your neighbors in their lives, their chastity, of 
their possessions, either by violence, or by fraud ; or 
that yeu have scandalously debased the rational nature 
of man by that vile intempeiance which transforms us 
into the worst kind of brutes, or something beneath 
them. 

4. In opposition to all this, I will suppose that you 
believe the existence and providence of God, and the 
truth cf Christianity as a revelation from him : Of 
which, if you have any doubt, I must desire that you 
would immediately seek your satisfaction elsewhere.* 
I say, immediately ; because not to believe it, is, in 
effect, to disbelieve it ; and will make your ruin equal- 

* In such a case, I beg leave te refer the reader to my three sermons 
on the evidence of Christianity ; the last of the ten on the Power and 
Grace of Christ : In which he may see the hitherto unshaken founda* 
tion of nay own faith, in a fchort, and, I hope, a clear view. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 25 

ly certain, though, perhaps, it may leave it less aggra- 
vated, than if contempt and opposition had been added 
to suspicion and neglect. But, supposing you to be a 
nominal Christian, and not a Deist or a Sceptic ; I will 
also suppose your conduct among men to be not only 
blameless, but amiable ; and that they who know you 
most intimately, must acknowledge that yeu are just 
and sober, humane and courteous; compassionate and 
liberal; yet with all this, you may laek that one thing, 
on which your eternal happiness depends. 

5. I beseech you, reader, whoever you are, that 
you would look seriously into your own heart, and ask 
i1 this one question, " Am I truly religioas ? fs the love 
of God the governing principle of my life ? Do I walk 
under a sense of his presence? Do I converse with 
him from day to day, in the exercise of prayer and 
praise ? And am 1, on the whole, making his service 
my business and my delight, regarding him as my Mas- 
ter and my Father ?" 

6. It is my present business only to address myself 
to the person whose conscience answers in the negative. 
And I would address with equal plainness, and equal 
freedom, to high and low, to rich and poor, to you 
(who, as the Scripture, with a dreadful propriety, ex- 
presses it) live without God in the world r And while in 
words and forms, you own God, and deny him in your ac* 
tions, and behave yourselves in the main, (a few exter- 
nal ceremonies only excepted,) just as you would do if 
you believed and were sure, there was no God. Un- 
happy creature, whoever you are! your own heart 
condemns you immediately ; ®n& how much more that 
God who is greater than your heart, and knoweth all things. 
He is in secret, as well as in public ; and words cannot 
express the delight with which his children converse 
with him alone : But in secret you acknowledge hina 
not ; you neither pray to him, nor praise him in your 
retirements. Accounts, correspondencies, studies 
may often bring you into your closet; but if nothing 
but devotion were to be transacted there, it would be 
to you quite an unfrequented place. Aud thus you go 
on from day to day in a continual forgetfulness of God ; 

C 



26 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and are as thoughtless ahout-religion, as if you had 
long since demonstrated it to yourself that it was a 
mere dream. If, indeed, you are sick, you will per- 
haps cry to God for health ; in any extreme danger 
you will lift up your eyes and voice for deliverance ; 
but as for the pardon of sin, and the other blessings of 
the gospel, you are hot at all inwardly solicitous about 
them, though you profess to believe that the gospel is 
divine, and the blessings of it eternal. All your 
thoughts, and all your hours, are divided between the 
business and amusements of life : And if,now and then, 
an awful providence, or serious sermon or book, awa- 
kens you, it is but a few days, or it may be, a few hours, 
and you are the same careless creature you ever were 
before. On the whole, you act as if yeu were resolv- 
ed to put it to the venture, and at your own expense, 
to make the experiment, whether the consequences of 
neglecting religion, be indeed as terrible as its ministers 
and friends have represented. Their remonstrances 
do, indeed, sometimes force themselves upon you, as 
(considering the age and country in which y©u live) it 
is hardly possible entirely to avoid them ; but you have, 
it may be, found out the art of Isaiah's people, Hearing 
to hear, and not understand : And seeing to see, and not 
perceive ; your heart is waxed gross, your eyes are closed, 
and your ears heavy. Under the very ordinance of wor- 
ship, your thoughts are at the ends of the earth. Every 
amusement of the imagination is welcome, if it may 
but lead away your mind from so insipid and so disa- 
greeable a subject as religion. And, probably, the ve- 
ry last time you were in a worshipping assembly, you 
managed just as you would have done if you had thought 
God knew nothing of your behavior ; or as if you did 
not think it worth one single care whether he were 
pleased or displeased with it. 

7. Alas ! is it then come to this, with all your belief 
of God and providence and scripture ! that religion is 
not worth a thought ; that it is not worth one hour's 
serious consideration and reflection, " what God and 
Christ are, and what you yourself are, and what you 
must hereafter be ?" Where then are all your rational 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 27 

faculties ? How are they employed ; or rather how are 
they stupified and benumbed ? 

8. The certainty and importance of the things of 
which I speak are so evident, from the principles 
which you yourselves grant, that one might almost set 
a child or an idiot to reason upon them ; and yet they 
are neglcfcted by those who are grown* up to under- 
standing, and perhaps some of them to such refinement 
of understanding, that they would think themselves 
greatly injured if they were not to be reckoned among 
the politer and more learned part of mankind. 

9. Bui it is not your neglect, sirs, that can destroy the 
being or importance of such things as these. It may 
indeed destroy you, but it cannot in the least affect 
them.** Permit me, therefore, having been myself 
awakened, to come to each of you, and say, as the mar- 
iners did to Jonah, while asleep in the midst of a much 
less dangerous storm, What meanest thou, O sleeper 1 
Arise, and call upon thy God. Do you doubt as to the 
reasonableness, or necessity of doing t J will demand 
and answer me i Answer me fo your own conscience, as, 
one that must, ere long, render another kind of account. 

10. You own that there is a God, and well you may : 
For you cannot open your eyes but you must see the 
evident proofs of his being, his presence, and his agen- 
cy. You behold him around you in every object ; 
you feel him within you-, if I may so speak, in every 
vein, and in every nerve : You see, and you feel, not 
only that he hath formed you with an exquisite wisdom, 
which no mortal man could ever fully explain or com- 
prehend ; but that he is continually near you, wher- 
ever you are, and however you are employed, by day 
or by night ; in him you live* and move, and have your 
being. — Common sense will teiiyou, that it is not your 
own wisdom and power, and attention, that causes your 
heart to beat, and your blood to circulate ; that draws 
in, and sends out the breath of life, that precarious 
breath of a most uncertain life, that is in your nostrils. 
These things are done when you sleep as well as in 
those waking moments when you think not of the cir- 
culation of the blood nor of the necessity of breathing, 
nor so much as recollect that vou have a heart and 



28 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

lungs. Now, what is this but the hand of God perpet- 
ually supporting and actuating those curious machines 
that he has made. 

11. Nor is this his care limited to you ; hut if ycu 
look all around, far as your views can reach, you see it 
extending itself on every side ; and, oh, how much far- 
ther than you can trace it ! Reflect on the light and heat 
which the sun every where dispenses; on the air which 
surrounds all our globe, on the right temperature of 
which the life of the whole human race depends, and 
that of all the inferior creatures which dwell on the 
earth. Think of the suitable and plentiful provisions 
made for man and beast : The grass, the grain, the va- 
riety of fruits, and herbs and flowers ; every thing that 
delights us ; and say whether they do not speak plainly 
and loudly that our Almighty Maker is near, and that 
he is careful of us, and kind to us. And while all these 
things proclaim his goodness, do they not also proclaim 
his power! For w T hat power has any thing comparable 
to that which furnishes out these gifts of royal bounty ; 
and which, unwearied and unchanged, produces con- 
tinually, from day to day, and from age to age, such as- 
tonishing and magnificent effects over the face of the 
whole earth, and through all the regions of heaven ? 

12. It is then evident that God is present, present 
with you at this moment ; even God your Creator and 
Preserver, God, the Creator and Preserver of the 
whole visible and invisible world. And is he not pres- 
ent as a most observant and attentive Being? He that 

formed the eye, shall not he see ? He that planted the ear, 
shall not he hear ? He that teaches men knowledge, that 
gives him rational faculties, and pours in on his opening 
mind all the light it receives by them, shall n^t he 
know ? He who sees all the necessities of his crva- 
fares, so seasonably to provide for the in, shall he not 
see their actions too ; and seeing, shall he not judge of 
them? Has he given us a sense and discernment of 
what is good and evii, of what is true and false, of what 
is fair and deformed in temper and conduct ? and has he 
himself no discernment of these things ? Trifle not 
with your conscience, which tells you at cnce, that he 
judges of it, and approves or coademns, as it is decent 



• OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 29 

or indecent, reasonable or unreasonable ; and that the 
judgment vvhich he passes is of infinite importance to 
ail his creatures. 

13. And now to apply all this to your own case, let 
me seriously ask you, Is it a decent and reasonable thing 
that this firreat and glorious Benefactor should be neg- 
lected by his rational creatures ? by those that are ca- 
pable of attaining to some knowledge of him, and pre- 
senting to him some homage? Is it decent and reasona- 
ble that he should be forgotten and neglected by you ? 
Oh sinner, thoughtless as you are, you cannot dare to 
say that, or even to think it. Yon need not go back to 
the helpless-days of your infancy and childhood to con- 
vince you of the contrary; you need not, in order to 
this, to recollect the remarkable deliverances which, 
perhaps were wrought out for you many years ago : 
The repose of the last night, the refreshment and com- 
fort you have received this day ; yea, the mercies you 
are receiving this very moment, bear witness to him 
and yet you regard him not. Ungrateful creature that 
you are ! could you have treated any human benefactor 
thus? Could you have borne to neglect a kind parent, 
or any generous. friend that had but for a few months 
acted the part of a parent to you ? to have -taken no 
notice of him, while in his presence ; to have returned 
him no thanks ; to have had no contrivances to make 
some little acknowledgment for all his goodness ? Hu- 
man nature, bad as it is, is not fallen so low ; nay, the 
brutal nature is not so low as this. Surely evetfy do- 
mestic animal around you, must shame such ingrati- 
tude. If you do but for a few days take a little notice 
of a dog, and feed him with the refuse of your table, he 
will wait upen you, and love to be near you ; he will be 
eager to follow you from place to place ; and when af- 
ter a little absence you return home, will try, by a 
thousand fond transported motions, to tell you how 
much he rejoices to see you again. Nay brutes, far 
less sagacious and apprehensive, have some sense of 
our kindness, and express it after their own way; as 
the blessed God condescends to observe in this very 
view in which I mention it, the dull ox knows his owner. 
C2 



30 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and the stupid ass his masters crib : What lamentable de- 
generacy therefore is it that you do not know, that you, 
who have been numbered among God's professed peo- 
ple, do not and will not, consider your numberless obli- 
gations to him ? 

14. Surely, if you have any ingenuity of temper, you 
must be ashamed and grieved in the review ; but if 
you have not, give me leave further to expostulate 
with you on this head, by setting it in something of a 
different light. Can you think j^ourself safe while yon 
are acting a part like this ? Do you not m your con- 
science believe there will be a future judgment ? Do 
you not believe there is an invisible and eternal 
world ? As professed Christians, we all believe it ; for 
it is no controverted point, but displayed in scripture 
with so clear an evidence, tfcat, subtil and ingenious as 
men are in error, they have not yet found out a way to 
evade it. And believing this, do you not see, that 
while you are thus wandering from God, destruction 
and misery are in your ways ? Will this indolence and 
negligence of temper be any security to you? will it 
guard you from judgment ? You might much more rea- 
sonably expect, that shutting your eyes would be a de- 
fence against the rage of a devouring lion ; or that look- 
ing another way would secure your body from being 
pierced by a bullet or a sword. When God speaks of 
the extravagant folly of some thoughtless creatures, 
who would hearken to no admonition now, he adds in a 
very drwful manner, in thertatter day they shall consider it 
perfectly. And is not this applicable to you ? Must ycu 
not, sooner or later, be brought to think of these things 
whether you will or no ? And in the mean time, do you 
not certainly know, that timely and serious reflections 
upon them is, through divine grace, the enly way to 
prevent your ruin. 

15. Yes, sinner, I need not multiply words on a sub# 
ject like this. Your conscience is already inwardly 
convinced, though your pride may be unwilling to own 
it. And, to prove it, let me ask you one question more : 
Would you upon any terms and considerations whatev- 
er, come to a resolution, absolutely to dismiss all fur- 
ther thoughts of religion, and alfcare about it, from 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 31 

this day and hour, and to abide "by the consequences of 
that negrlect ? I believe hardly any man living would 
be bold enough to determine upon this ; 1 believe 
most of my readers would be ready to tremble at the 
thought of it. 

15. But if it be necessary to take these things into 
consideration at all, it is necessary to do it quickly ; 
for life itself is not so very long, nor so certain, that a 
wise man should risk much upon its continuance. And 
I hope to convince you, when I have another hearing, 
that it is necessary to doit immediately ; and that next 
to the madness of resolving you will aot think of reli- 
gion at all, is that of saying you will think of it here- 
after. In the mean time pause on the hints which 
have been already given, and they will prepare you to 
receive what is to be added on that head. 



The Meditation of a Sinner^ who was once thoughtless, 
but begins to be awakened, 

AWAKE, oh my forgetful soul, awake from these 
wandering dreams ; turn thee from this chase of vanity, 
and for a little while be persuaded, by all these consid- 
erations, to look forward, and to look upwards, at least 
for a few moments. Sufficient are the hours and days 
given to the labors and amusements of life ; grudge not 
a short allotment of minutes to view thyself and thine 
own more immediate concerns ; to reflect who, and 
what thou art; how it comes to pass that thou art here, 
and what thou must quickly be ! 

It is indeed as thou hast now seen it represented. 
Oh my soul, thou art the creature of God, formed and 
furnished by him, and lodged in a body which he pro- 
vided, and which he supports ; a body in which he in- 
tended thee enly a transitory abode. O think how 
soon this tabernacle must be dissolved, and thou mast re* 
turn to God. And shall He, the one infinite eternal, 
ever blessed,and ever glorious Being, shall He be least 
of all regarded by thee ? Wilt thou live and die with 
this character, saying by every action of every day un- 
to God, Depart from me for I desire not the knowledge 



32 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

of thy ways? The morning, the day, the evening, the 
feight, every period of time, has its excuses for this neg- 
lect. Bat, oh my sou], what will these excuses appear 
when examined by his penetrating eye ! They may 
delude me, but they cannot impose upon him. 

Oh, thou injured, neglected; provoked Benefactor! 
when I think but for a moment or two, of all thy good- 
ness, I am astonished at this insensibility which hath 
prevailed in my heart, and even still prevails. / blush 
and am e unfounded to lift up my face before thee. Oa 
the most transient review, I see that I have played the 
fool, that I have, erred exceedingly ; and yet this stupid 
heart or mine would make it* having neglected thee so 
long, a reason for going on to neglect thee. I own it 
might justly he expected that, with regard to thee, eve- 
ry one of thy rational creatures should be all duty and 
Jove ; that each heart should be full of a sense of thy 
presence ; and that a care to please thee should swal- 
low up every other care ; yet thou hast not been in all 
my thoughts ; and religion, the end and glory of my na* 
ture, has been so strangely overlooked, that I have 
hardly ever seriously asked my own h*art what it is. I 
know if matters rest here, I perish ; and yet I feel in 
my perverse nature a secret indisposition to pur- 
sue these thoughts ; a proneness, if not entirely to 
dismiss them, yet to lay them aside for the present. 
My mmd is perplexed and divided ; but 1 am sure thou 
who siadest me, knowest what is best for me. I, there- 
fore, beseech thee, that thou wilt, for thy name's sake, 
lead me and guide me. Let me not delay till it is forev- 
er too late ; pluck me as a brand eut of the burning. 
Oh. break this fatal enchantment that holds down my 
affections to objects which my judgment comparatively 
despises ! and let me at length, come into so happy a 
state of mind, that 1 may not be afraid to think of thee 
and of myself; and may not be tempted to wish, that 
thou hadst not made me ; or that thou couldst forever 
forget me : That it may not be my best hope to perish 
like the brutes. 

If what I shall farther read here be agreeable to 
truth and reason ; if it be calculated to promote my 
happiness, and is to be regarded as an intimation ©f 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL- 33 

thy will and pleasure to me, oh God, let me hear and 
obey; let the words of thy servant, when pleading 
thy cause, be like goads to pierce into my mind ; and 
let me rather feel, and smart, than die ! let them be as 
nails fastened in a sure place: That whatever mysteries 
yet unknown, or whatever difficulties there be in re- 
ligion, if it be necessary, I may not finally neglect it ; 
and that if it he expedient to attend immediately to it, 
I may no longer delay that attendance ! And, oh ! let 
thy grace teach me the lesson I am so slow to learn, 
and conquer that strong opposition which I feel in my 
heart against the very thought of it ! Hear these brok- 
en cries for the sake of thy Son. who has taught and 
saved many a creature as untractable as I, and can out 
of stones raise up children to Abraham. Amen* 



CHAP. III. 

THE AWAKENED SINNER URGED TO IMMEDIATE CONSID- 
ERATION, AND CAUTIONED AGAINST DELAY. 

Sinners when awakened, inclinable to dismiss convictions for the pre- 
sent, 1, An immediate regard to religion urged, 2. (1.) From the 
excellency and pleasure of the thing itself, 3. (2.) From the un- 
certainty of that future time on which sinners presume, compared 
with the sad consequences of being cut off in sin, 4. (3.) From the 
immutability of God's present demands, 5. (4.) From the tendency 
which delay has to make a compliance with these demands more 
difficult than it is at present, 6. (5.) From the danger of God'§ 
withdrawing his Spirit, compared with the dreadful case of a Siftnef, 
given up by it, 7 ; which probably is now the case of many, 8. Since, 
therefore, on the whole, whatever the event be, delays must prove 
matter of lamentation, 9. The chapter concludes with an exhorta- 
tion against yielding to them, 10 : And a prayer against temptations 
of that kind. 

1. I HOPE my last address so far awakened the con- 
viction of my reader, as to bring him to this purpose, 
" That some time or other he would attend to reli- 
gions considerations." But give me leave to ask ear- 
nestly and punctually, u When that shall be?" — Go thy 
way for this time, and at a more convenient season I will 
send for thee, was the language and the ruin of unhappy 
Felix, when he trembled under the reasonings and ex- 



34 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

postulations f f the apostle. The tempter presumed 
riot to urge that he should give up all thoughts of re- 
pentance and reformation ; but only that, considering 
the present hurry of his affairs, (as no doubt they were 
many,) he should defer it to a longer day. The arti- 
fice succeeded, and Felix was undone. 

2. Will you, reader, dismiss me thus? For your own 
sake, and out of tender compassion to your perishing, 
immortal soul, I would not willingly take up with such 
a dismission and excuse. No, not though you should 
fix a time; though you should determine on the next 
year, or month, or week, or day, I would turn upen you 
with ail the eagerness and tenderness of friendly im- 
portunity, and intreat you to bring the matter to an is- 
sue even now ; for if you say, " I will think on these 
things to morrow," I shall have little hope, and shall 
conclude, that all I have hitherto urged, and all that 
you have read, hath been offered and viewed in vain. 

3 When I invite you to the care and practice of 
religion, it may seem strange that it should be necessa- 
ry for me affectionately to plead the case with you, in 
order to your immediate regard and compliance. What 
lam inviting you to is so noble and excellent in itself, 
so well worthy the dignity of our rational nature, so 
suitable to it, so manly, and so wise, that one would 
imagine you should take fire, as it were at the very 
hearing of it ; yea, and so delightful a view should pre- 
sently possess your whole soul with a kind of indigna^ 
tion against yourself that you pursued it no sooner. 
4fc May 1 lift up mine eyes and my soul to God ? may I 
devote myself to him? may I even now commence a 
friendship to him, a friendship which shall last forever, 
the security, the delight, the glory of this immortal 
nature of mine ? And shall I draw back, and say, Nev- 
ertheless, let me not commence this friendship too 
soon: Let me live at least a few weeks, or a few days 
longer, without God in the world ?" Surely it would 
be much more reasonable to turn inwardly and say, 
6t Oh, my soul, on what vile husks hast *h >u been feed- 
ing, while thine heavenly Father hath been forsaken 
and injured? Shall J desire to mtilti ply the days ot my 
poverty, my scandal, and my misery ?" On this prin- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. $5 

ciple, surely, an immediate return to God, should in all 
reason, be chosen, rather than to play the fool any 
longer, and go on a little more to displease God, and 
thereby to starve and wound your own soul, even 
though your continuance be in your own power now, 
and in every future moment through scores yet to 
come. 

4. But who, or what are you, that you should lay your 
account for years or for months to came ? What is your 
life ? Is it not" even as a vapor that appear eth for a little 
time and then vanisheth away /"' And what is your secu- 
rity, or what is your peculiar warrant, lhat you should 
depend upon the certainty of its continuance ? and that 
so absolutely as to venture, as it were, to pawn your 
soul upon it ? Why, you will perhaps say, u I am young, 
and in all my bloom and vigor : 1 see hundreds about 
me, who are more than double my age, and not a few 
of them who seem to think it too soon to attend to reli- 
gion yet." You view the living and you talk thus ; 
but I beseech you to think of '.he dead Return in your 
thoughts to those graves, in which you have left some 
of your young companions and your friends. You saw 
them a while ago gay and active ; warm with life, and 
hopes and schemes ; and some of them would have 
thought a friend strangely importunate that should have 
interrupted them in their business, and their pleasures, 
with a solemn lecture of death and eternity : Yet they 
were then on the very borders of both. You have 
since seen their corpse, or at least their coffins ,* and 
probably carried about with you the badges of mourning 
which you received at their funerals. Those once vig- 
orous, and perhaps, beautiful bodies ©f theirs, now ly- 
ing mouldering in the dust, as senseless and helpless as 
the most decrepid pieces of human nature which four- 
score years ever brought down to it. And what is infi- 
nitely more to be regarded, their souls, whether pre- 
pared for this great change, or thoughtless of it, have 
made their appearance before God, and are, at this mo- 
ment, fixed either in heaven or in hell. Now let me 
seriously ask you, would it be miraculous, or would it 
be strange, if such an event should befal you ? j How are 
you sure that some fatal disease shall not this day begin 



3S THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to work in your veins ? How are you sure that you 
shall ever be capable of reading or thinking- any more, 
if you do not attend to what you now read, and pursue 
the thought which is now offering itself to your mind ? 
This sudden alteration may, at least possibly happen ; 
and if it does, it will be to you a terrible ose indeed, 
To be thus surprised into the presence of a forgotten 
God ; to be tern away, at once, from a world, to which 
your whole heart and soul has been riveted ; a world, 
which has engrossed all your thoughts and cares, all 
your desires and pursuits ; and be fixed in a state, 
which you could never be so far persuaded to think of, 
as to spend so much as one hour in serious preparation 
for it; how must you even shudder at the apprehension 
of it, and with what horror must it fill you ? It seems 
matter of wonder, that, in such circumstances, you are 
not almost distracted with the thoughts of the uncer- 
tainty of life, and are not even ready to die for fear of 
death. To trifle with God any longer after so solemn 
an admonition as this, would be a circumstance of addi- 
tional provocation, which, after all the-rest, might be 
fatal : Nor is there any thing that you can expect in 
such a case, but that he should cut you off immediate- 
ly, and teach other thoughtless creatures, by your ru- 
in, wkat;a hazardous experiment they make when they 
act as you are acting* 

5. And will you, alter all, run this desperate risk • 
For what imaginable purpose can you do it? Do jou 
think the business of religion will beGome less necessa- 
ry or more easy by your delay ? You know that it will 
not ! You know that whatever the blessed God de- 
mands now he will also demand twenty or thirty years 
hence, if you should live to see the time. God hath 
fixed the method in which he will pardon and accept 
sinners, in his gospel. And will he ever alter that 
method? or, if he will not, can men alter it? You like 
not to think of repenting, and humbling yourself before 
God, to receive righteousness and life fiom his free 
grace in Christ ; and you above all dislike the thought 
of returning to God in the w r ays of holy obedience. — 
But will he ever dispense with any of these, and publish 
a new gospel, with promises of life and salvation to in> 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 37 

penitent, unbelieving sinners, if they will but call them- 
selves christian, and submit to a few external rites? 
How long do you think you might wait for such a 
change in the constitution of things ? you know death 
will come upon you ; an-d you cannot but know in your 
own conscience, (hat a general dissolution will come 
upon the world long before God can thus deny himself 
and contradict all his perfections, and all his declarations. 

6. Or if his demands continue the same, as they as- 
suredly will, do you think any thing which is now disa- 
greeable to you in them will be less disagreeable here- 
after than it i« at present ? Shall you live siniess, when 
it is become more habitual to you, and when conscience 
is yet more enfeebled and debauched ? If you are run* 
ning with the footmen and fainting, shall you be able to 
contend wiihtfie horsemen ? Surely you cannot imagine 
it. You would not say in any distemper which threat- 
ened your life, "I will stay till I grow a little worse, and 
then I will apply to a physician : I will let my disease 
get a little more rooted in my vitals and then I will 
try what can be done to remove it." No ; it is only 
where the life of the soul is concerned, that men think 
thus wildly : Tne life and health of the body appear 
too precious to be thus trifled away. 

7. If after such desperate experiments you are ever 
recovered^ it must be by an operation of divine grace 
on your soul, yet more powerful and more wonderful, 
in proportion to the increasing inveteracy of your spir- 
itual maladies. And can you expect that the Holy 
Spirit should be more ready to assist you, in conse- 
quence ofyour having so shamefully trifled with him, 
and affronted him ! he is now, in some measure, mov- 
ing on your heart : If you feel any secret relentings 
in it upon what you read, it is a sign you are not yet 
utterly forsaken : But who can tell whetfter these are 
not the last touches he will ever give to a heart so 
long hardened agauist him ? Who can tell but God may 
this day swear in his wrath, that you shall not enter into 
his rest ? I have been telling you that you may imme- 
diately die. You own that possibly you may. And 
can you think of any thing more terrible ? Yes f sinLer t 

D 



36 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

I will tell you ofone thing more dreadful than immedi- 
ate death, and immediate damnation. The blessed 
God may say, As for that wretched creature, who has so 
long trifled with me and provoked me, let him still live : 
Let him live in the midst of prosperity and plenty r Let 
him live under the most powerful ordinances of the gospel 
too ; that he may abuse them, to aggravate his condemna- 
tion, and die under sevenfold guilt* audaseven fold curse. 
I will not give him the grace to think of his ways for one 
serious moment more ; but he shall go on from bad to worse, 
filing up the measure of his iniquities, till death and des* 
truetion seize him in an unexpected hour, and wrath come 
upon him to the uttermost. 

8. You think this an uncommon case : But I fear it is 
much otherwise. I fear there are few congregations 
where the word of God has been faithfully preached, 
and where it has been long despised, especially by 
those whom it had once- awakened, in which the eye of 
God does not see a number of such wretched souls ; 
though it is impossible for us to pronounce upon the 
case who they are. 

9 I pretend not to say how he will deal with you, oh 
reader; whether he will immediatelj' cut you off, or 
seal you up under final hardness and impenitency of 
heart; or whether his grace may, at length, awaken 
you to consider your ways, and to return to him, even 
when your heart is grown yet more obdurate than it is 
at present : For to his almighty grace nothing is hard, 
nor even to transform a rock or marble into a man and a 
saint. But this I will confidently say, That if jou de- 
lay any longer, the time will come when you will bit- 
terly repent of that delay ; and either lament it before 
God in the anguish of your heart here, or curse your 
own folly and madness in hell; yea, when you will 
wish that, dreadful as hell is, you had rather fallen into 
it sooner, than have lived in the midst of so many abus- 
ed mercies, to render the degrees of your punishment 
more insupportable, and your sense of it more exqui- 
sitely tormenting. 

10 I do therefore earnestly exhort you, in the name 
ef ©ur Lord Jesus Christ, and by the worth, and if I 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 39 

may so speak, by the blood of your immortal and per- 
ishing soul, that you delay not a day or an hour longer. 
Far from giving sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eye* 
lids, in the continued neglect of this important concern, 
take withy ju, even now, words and turn unto the Lord ; 
and before you quit the place where you now are, fall 
upon your knees in his sacred presence, and pour out 
your heart in such language, or at least to some such 
purpose as this. 

A Prayer for one who is tempted to delay applying to Re- 
ligion, though under some Convictions of its importance* 
OH thou righteous and holy Sovereign of heaven 
and earth ! thou God in whose hand my breath is, and 
whose are all my ways! 1 confess 1 have been far from 
glorifying thee, or conducting myself according to the 
intimations, or the declarations of thy will. I have 
therefore reason to adore thy forbearance and goodness, 
that thou hast not long since stopped my breath, and 
cut me off from the land of the living. I adore thy pa- 
tience, that I have not months and years ago been an 
inhabitant of hell ; where ten thousand delaying sinners 
are new lamenting their folly, and will be lamenting it 
forever. But O God, how possible is it that this tri- 
fling heart of mine may, at length, betray me into the 
same ruin ! and then alas, into a ruin aggravated by all 
this patience and forbearance of thine I I am convinced 
that, sooner or !ater, religion must be my serious care, 
or I am undone : And yet my foolish heart draws back 
from the yoke: Yet I stretch myself upon the bed of 
sloth, and cry out for a little more sleep , a little more 
slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep. Thus 
does my corrupt heart plead for its own indulgence 
against the convictions of my better judgment. What 
shall I say? O Lord save me from myself! save me 
from the artifices and deceitfulness of sin: Save me 
from the treachery of this perverse and degenerate na- 
ture of mine, and fix upon my mind what I have now 
been reading ! 

O Lord, am I not now instructed in truths which 
were before quite unknown ? Often have 1 been Warn- 
ed of the uncertainty of life, and of the greater uncer- 



40 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

tainty of the day of salvation : And I have formed some 
light purposes, and have begun to take a few irreso- 
lute steps in my way towards a return unto thee, But, 
alas ! 1 have been only, as it were flutteri g about re- 
ligion, and have never fixed upon it. All my resolu- 
tions have been scattered like smoke, or dispersed like 
a cloudy vapor before the wind. Oh, that thou wouldst 
now bring these things home to my heart with a more 
powerful conviction than it hath ever yet felt ! Oh, 
that thou wouldst pursue me with them, even when I 
flee from them, if I should ever grow mad enough to 
endeavor to escape them any more ? May thy spirit 
address me in the language of effectual terror ; and 
add all the most powerful methods which thou know- 
est to be necessary, to awaken me from this lethargy 
which must otherwise be mortal! May the sound of 
these things be in mine ears, when I go out, and when I 
come in, when I lie down, and when I rise up ! And if the 
repose of the night, and the business of the day, be for a 
while interrupted by the impression, be it so, O God ! 
if I may but thereby carry on my business with thee to 
better purpose, and at length secure a repose in thee, 
instead of all that terror which now I find, when I think 
upon God, and am troubled. 

O Lord, my Jiesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am 
afraid of thy judgments, I am afraid, lest even now, 
that I have begun to think of religion, thou shouldst cut 
me off in this critical and important moment, before 
my thoughts grow to any ripeness ; and blast in eternal 
death, the first buddings and openings of it in my mind. 
But, oh, spare me, 1 earnestly intreat thee ; for thy 
mercy's sake, spare me a little longer ; it may be, 
through thy grace, I shall return. It may be, if thou 
continuest thy patience towards me a while longer, 
there may be some better fruit produced by this cum- 
berer of the ground. And may the remembrance of that 
long forbearance, which thou hast already exercised to- 
wards me, prevent my continuing to trifle with thee, 
and with my own soul , from this day, O Lord, from 
this hour, from this moment, may I be able to date more 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 41 

lasting impressions of religion than have ever yet been 
made upon my heart by all that 1 have ever read, or 
all that I have heard ! Amen. 



CHAP. IV. 

THE SINNER ARRAIGNED AND CONVICTED. 

Convictions of guilt necessary, 1. A charge of rebellion against God 
advanced, 2. Where it is shewn, (1.) That all men are born under 
God's law, 3. (2.) That no man hath perfectly kept it, 4. An ap- 
peal to the reader's conscience on this head, that he hath not, 5. (3.) 
That to ha^e broken it is an evil inexpressibly great, 6. Illustrated 
by a more particular view of the aggravations of this guilt arising, 
(1.) *rom knowledge, 7. (2.) From divine favors received, 8. (3.) 
From convictions of conscience, overborne, 9. (4.) From the striv- 
ings of God's Spirit resisted, 10. (5.) From vows and resolutions 
broken, 11. The charge summed up, and left upon the sinner' s- 
conscience, 12. The sinners confession under a general conviction 
of guilt. 

I. AS I am attempting to lead you to true religion, 
and not merely to some superficial form of it, I am sen- 
sible I can do it no otherwise than in the way of deep 
humiliation. And therefore, supposing you are per- 
suaded, through the divine blessings on what you have 
before read j to take it into consideration, I would now 
endeavor, in the first place, with all the seriousness I 
can, to make you heartily sensible of your guilt before 
God. For I well know, that unless you are convinced 
of this and affected with the conviction, all the provis- 
ions of gospel grace will be slighted, and your soul in- 
fallibly destroyed in the midst of the noblest means ap- 
pointed for its recovery. I am fully persuaded that 
thousands live and die in a course of sin, without feel- 
ing upon their hearts any sense that they are sinners, 
though they cannot, for shame, but own it in words. 
And therefore let me deal faithfully with you, though I 
may seem to deal roughly ; for complaisance is not to 
give law to addresses in which the life of your soul is 
•oncerned. 

D2 



42 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

2. Permit me, therefore, O sinner, to consider my- 
seK at (his time as an advocate for God; as one em- 
ployed in his name to plead against thee, and to charge 
thee with nothing less than heing a rebel and a traitor 
against the. sovereign Majesty of heaven and ear'h. 
However thou may est be dignified or distinguished 
among men ; if the noblest blood run in thy veins ; if 
thy seat were among princes, and thine arm were the 
terror of the mighty in the land of the living, it would 
be necessary thou shouldst be told, and told plainly, 
thou hast broken the law oj the king of kings, and by 
the breach of it art become obnoxious to his righteous 
condemnation. 

3. Your conscience tells you, that you were born 
the natural subject of God : Born under the indispen- 
sable obligations of his law. For it is most apparent, 
that the constitution ofyour rational nature, which makes 
you capable of receiving law from God, binds you to 
obey it. And it is equally evident and certain, that 
you" have not exactly obeyed this law ; nay, that 
you have violated it in many aggravated instances. 

4. Will you dare to deny this ? Will you dare to as- 
sert your innocence ? Remember it must be a complete 
innocence ; yea, and a perfect righteousness too ; or it 
can stand you in no stead farther than to prove that, 
though a condemned sinner, you are »ot quite so crim- 
inal as some others, and will not have quite so hot a 
place in hell as they. And when this is considered, 
will you plead not guilty to the charge ? Search the re- 
cords of your own conscience, for God searcheth them ; 
ask it seriously, " Have you never in your life sinned 
against God ?" Solomon declared, that in his day there 
zvas not a just man upon the earth, who did good and sinned 
not : And the apostle Paul, that all had sinned and 
come short of the glory of God: That, both Jews and 
Gentiles, (which y ou know comprehend the whole hu- 
man race) were all under sin. And can you pretend any 
imaginable reason to believe the world is grown so 
much better since their days, that any should now plead 
their own case as an exception ? Or will you however, 
presume to arise, in the face of the omniscient Majesty 
of heaven^ and say u I am the man." 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 43 

5. Supposing as before, you have been free from 
those gross acts of immorality, which are so perni- 
cious to society, that they have generally been pun- 
ishable by bum in lavs ; can yr j pretend that you have 
not in smaller instances, violated the rules of piety or 
temperance, and of charity ? Is there any one person, 
who has intimately known you, that would not be able 
to testify you had said or done something amiss ? Or, if 
others could not convict you, would not your own heart 
do it ? Does it not prove you guilty of pride, of pas- 
sion, of sensuality, of an excessive fondness for the 
world and its enjoyments : Of murmuring, or at lea*t 
of secretly repining against God under the strokes of an 
afflictive providence ; of misspending a great deal of 
your time ; of abusing the gifts of God's bounty to vain, 
if not (in some instances) to pernicious purposes; of 
mocking him when you have pretended to engage in his 
worship, drawing near to him with your mouth and your 
lips, while your heart has been far from him? Does not 
conscience condemn you of some one breach of the law 
at least : And by one breach of it, you are, in a sense, a 
scriptural sense, become guilty of all ; and are as inca- 
pable of being justified before God by any obedience 
of your own, as if you had committed ten thousand of- 
fences. But in reality, there are ten thousand and 
more, chargeable to your account. When you come 
to reflect on all your sins of negligence, as well as 
those of commission ; on all the instances in which yon 
have failed to do good, when it was in the power of your 
hand to do it ; on all the instances in which acts oi de- 
votion have been omitted, especially in secret ; and on 
all those cases in which you have shewn a stupid disre- 
gard to the honor of God, and to the temporal and 
eternal happiness of your fellow creatures ; when all 
these, I say, are revived, the number will swell beyond 
possibility of account,and force you to cry out, Mine in-* 
iquities are more than the hairs oj mine head. They will 
appear in such a light before you, that your own heart 
will charge you with countless multitudes : And how 
much more thenjhat God who is greattr than your hearty 
mud kngweth all things i 



U THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

6. And say, sinner, is it a little thing that yon have 
presumed to set light by the authority of the God of 
heaven, and to violate his law, if it had been by mere 
carelessness and inattention ? how much more heinous 
therefore, is the guilt, when in so many instances you 
have d me it knowingly and wilfully? Give me leave 
seriously to a*k you, and let me intreat yon to a«k your 
own soul, Against whom hast thou magnified thystlf ? j2- 
gainst whom hu st thou exalted thy voice? Or lifted up 
thy rebellious hand ? On whose law, oh sinner, hast 
thou presumed to trample ? and whose friendship and 
whose enmity hast thou therefore dared to affront ? 
Is it a man like thyself that thou hast insulted? is it 
only a temporal monarch ? Only one who can kill the bo* 
dy* and then hath no more power that he can do ? Nay, 
sinner, thou wouldstnot have dared to treat a temporal 
prince as thou hast treated the King, eternal, immortal^ 
and invisible. No price could have hired thee to deal 
by the majesty of an earthly sovereign, as thou hast 
dealt by thy God, before whom the cherubim and sera- 
phim are continually bowing. Not one opposing or 
complaining, disputing, or} murmuring word is heard 
among all the celestial legions when the intimations of 
his will are published to them ; and who art thou, oh 
wretched man, who art thou that thou snouldst oppose 
him ? that thou shouldst oppose and provoke a God of 
infinite power and terror, who needs but exert one sin- 
gle act of his sovereign will, and thou art in a moment 
stripped of every possession ; cut off from every hope ; 
destroyed and rooted up from existence, 'if that were 
his pleasure ; or, what is inconceivably worse, con- 
signed over to the severest and most lasting agon- 
ies ? Yet this is the God whom thou hast offended ; 
whom thou hast affronted to his face, presuming to vi- 
olate his express laws in his very presence: This js 
the God before whom thou standest as a convicted crim- 
inal ; convicted, not of one or two particular offences* 
but of thousands and of ten thousands: (Of a course 
and series of rebellions and provocations, in which thou 
hast persisted, more or less, ever since thou wast born : 
And the particulars of 6 which have been attended with 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 45 

almost every conceivable circumstance of aggravation. 
Reflect on particulars, and deny the charge if you can. 

7. If knowledge be an aggravation of&uilt, thy guilt 
O sinner, is greatly aggravated ? For thou wast born 
in Immanuel's land, and God hath written to thee the 
great things of his law, yet thou hast accounted them as 
a strange thing. Thou hast known to do good, and hast 
not done it; and therefore to thee the omission of it 
has been sin indeed. Hast thou not known ? bast thou 
not heard? wast thou not early taught the will of God 
in thine infant years ? Hast thou not since, received re- 
peated lessons, by which it hath been inculcated again 
and again, in public and in private, by preaching and 
reading the word of God? nay, hath it not been thy 
duty, in some instances, so plain, that even without any 
instruction at all thine own reason might easily have 
inferred it ? and hast thou not also been warned of the 
consequences of disobedience ? hast thou not known* 
the righteous judgment of God that they who commit such 
things are worthy of death ? yet thou hast, perhtps, not on* 
ly done the same, but hast taken pleasure in those that do 
them ; hast chosen them tor thy most intimate friends 
and companions ; so as thereby to strengthen, by the 
force of example and converse, the hands of each oth- 
er in your iniquities. 

8. Nay, more, if divine love and mercy be any ag* 
gravation of the sins committed against it, thy crimes, 
O sinner, are heinously aggravated. Must Ihou not 
acknowledge it. O foolish creature, and unwise ? hast 
thou not been nourished and brought up by him as his 
child) and yet hast r belled against him ? Did not God 
take you out of the womb ? did he not watch over you in 
your infant days, and guard you from a multitude of 
dangers, which the most careful parent or nurse could 
not have observed, or warded off? Has he not given 
you your rational powers? And is it not by him you 
have been favored with every opportunity of improv- 
ing them ? Has he not every day supplied your wants 
with an unwearied liberality ; and added, with respect 
to many who will read this, the delicacies of life to its 
necessary supports ? Was he not heard you cry wken 



46 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

trouble came upon you ? and frequently appeared for 
jour deliverance, when in the distresses of nature you 
had called upon him for help ? has he not rescued from 
ruin, when it seemed just ready to swallow you up; 
and healed your diseases, when it seemed to all about 
you that the residue of your days was cut off in the midst ? 
Or, if it had not been so, is not this long continued and 
uninterrupted health, which you have enjoyed for so 
many years, to be acknowledged as an equivalent obli- 
gation ? Look around upon all your possessions and say, 
what one thing have you in the world which his good- 
ness did not give you, and which he hath not thus far 
preserved to you ? Add to all this, the kind notices of 
his will which he hath sent to you ? The tender ex- 
postulations which he hath used with you to bring you 
to a wiser and better temper ; and the discoveries and 
gracious invitations of his gospel, which you haye heard, 
and which you have despised : And then say whether 
your rebellion has not been aggravated by the vilest 
ingratitude, and whether that aggravation can be ac- 
counted small ? 

9. Again, if it be any aggravation of sin to be com- 
mitted against conscience, thy crimes, O sinner, have 
been so aggravated. Consult the records ot it, and 
then dispute the fact if yon can. There is a spirit in 
nun* and the inspiration of the Mmighty giveth him «n- 
derstandiag : And then understanding will act, and a se- 
cret conviction of being accountable to its Maker and 
Preserver is inseparable from the actings of it. It is 
easy to object to human remonstrances, and to give 
things false colorings before men-; but the heart often 
condemns, while the tongue excuses. Have you not 
often found it so, has not the conscience remonstrated 
against your past couduct; and have not these remon- 
strances been very painful too ? I have been assured 
by a gentleman of undoubted credit, that when he was 
in the pursuit of all the gayesC sensualities of life, and 
was reckoned one of the happiest of mankind, when 
he has seen a dog come into the room where he was 
among his merry companions, he has groaned inwardly 
and said " O that I had been that dog !" And hast thou, 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 47 

© sinner, felt nothing like this ? has thy conscience 
been so stupified, so seared with a hot iron, that it has 
never cried out of any of (he violences which have been 
done in it ? has it never warned thee ot the fatal conse- 
quences of what thou hast done in opposition to it? 
These warnings are in effect, the voice of God ; they 
are the admonitions which he gave thee by his vicege- 
rent in thy breast. And when his sentence for thy evil 
works is executed upon thee in everlabting death, thou 
shalt hear that voice speaking t<> thee again in a louder 
tone and a severer accent than before : And thou shalt 
be tormented with its upbraidmgs through eternity, 
because thou wouldest not in time heat ken to its admo- 
nitions. 

10 Let me add farther: if it be any aggravation 
that sin has been committed after God has been moving 
by his Spirit on the mind, surely your sin has been at- 
tended with that aggravation too. Under the Mosaic 
dispensation, dark and imperfect as it was, the spirit 
strove with the Jews ; else Stephen could not have 
charged it upon them, that through all their genera- 
tions, they had always resisted him. Now, surely we 
may much more reasonably apprehend that he strives 
with sinners under the gospel. And have you never 
experienced any thing of this kind, even when there 
has been no external circumstance to awaken you, nor 
any pious teacher near you 1 have you ne/er perceiv- 
ed some secret impulse upon your mind, leading you to 
think of religion, urging you to an immediate consid- 
eration of it, sweetly inviting you to make trial of it, 
and warning you that you would lament this stupid neg- 
lect ? O sinner, why were not these happy motions at- 
tended tc ? why did you not as it were, spread out all 
the sails ofyour soul to catch that heavenly, that favor- 
able breeze ? But if you have carelessly neglected it : 
if you have overborne these kind influences : how* 
reasonably might the sentence have gone forth in 
righteous displeasure, My spirit shall no more strive ? 
And, indeed, who can say that it is not already gone 
forth? if you feel no secret agitation of mind, no re- 
morse, no awakening, while you read such a remon- 
strance as this, there will be room, great room, to sus- 
pect it. 



48 THE kISE AND PROGRESS 

11. There is indeed one aggravation more, which 
may not attend 3 our guilt, I mean thai of' being commit- 
ted against solemn covenant engagements: A circum- 
stance which has lain heavy on the consciences of ma- 
ny, who perhaps in the mean series of their lives have 
served God with great integrity. But let me call you 
to think to what this is owing ? Is it not that you have 
never personally made any solemn profession of devo- 
ting yourself to God at ail ! have never done any 
thing which has appeared to your own apprehension 
an action by which you made a covenant with him; 
though you have heard so much of Lis covenant, 
though yr u have been so solemnly and so tenderly in- 
vited to it? And in this view, how monstrous must this 
circumstance appear, which at first was mentioned as 
some a'leviation of guilt ! yet 1 mu<t add, that you are 
not, perhaps, altogether so free from guilt on this head 
as you may at first imagine. 1 will not insist on the 
covenaut which your parents made in your name when 
they devotedyou to God in baptism; though it is real- 
ly a weighty matter, and by calling yourself a chris- 
tian you have professed 10 own and avow what they 
then did ; but 1 would remind you ol what may have 
been more personal and express. Has your heart 
been, even from your youth, hardened to so uncommon 
a degree that you have never cried to God in any sea- 
son of danger and difficulty ? and did you never min- 
gle vows with those crie^ ? did you never, promise, 
that if God would hear and help you in that hour of 
extremity, you would forsake your sins, and serve him 
as long as you lived ? He heard and helped you, or 
•you had not been reading these lines; and, by such 
deliverance did, as it were, bind down your vows upoa 
you : And therefore your guilt in the violation of them 
remains before him, though you are stupid enough to 
forget them. Nothing is forgotten, nothing is over- 
looked, by him; and the day will come when the re- 
cord shall be laid before you too. 

12. And now, O sinner, think seriously with thyself 
what defence thou wilt make to all this ! Prepare thine 
apology, call thy witnesses; make thine appeal from 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 49 

him whom thou hast thus offended to some superior 
judge, if such there be Alas, those apologies are so 
weak and vain that one of thy fellow worms maj^easily 
detect and confound them, as I will endeavor presently 
to show thee. But thy foreboding conscience already 
knows the issue. Thou art convicted ; convicted of 
the most aggravated offences. Thou hast not humbled 
thine heart, hut lifted up thyself against the Lord of heav- 
en ; and thy sentence shall come forth from his presence. 
Thou hast violated his known laws : Thou nasi des- 
pised and abused his numberless mercies : Thou hast 
affronted conscience, his vicegerent in thy soul ; thou 
hast resisted and grieved his Spirit : Thou nast trifled 
with him in all thy pretended submissions ; and in one 
word, and that his own, thou hast done evil things as 
thou couldest. Thousands are, no doubt, already in 
hell, whose gui.t never equalled thine ; and, it is as- 
tonishing, that God has spared thee to read this rep- 
resentation of the case, or to make any pause upon it* 
O waste not so precious a moment, but enter as atten* 
lively, and humbly as thou canst, into those reflections* 
which suit a case so lamentable, and so terrible a3 
thine I 



The Confession of a sinner, convinced in general of his 
guilt, 

OH God ! thou injured sovereign, thou all penetra- 
ting and almighty Judge ! what shall I Say to this 
charge ? Shall I pretend I am wronged by it, and stand 
on the defence in thy presence ? I dare not do it : for 
thou knowest my foolishness, and none of my sins are hid 
from thee. My conscience tells me, that a denial of my 
crimes would only increase them, and add new fuel 'o 
the fire of thy deserved wrath. If I justify myself, 
mine own mouth will condemn me ; if I say I am perfect, 
it will also prove me perverse. For innumerable evils 
have compassed me about : Mine iniquities have taken 
hold upon me, so that lam not able to look up ; they are 
as I have been told in thy name, more than the hairs of 
my head, and therefore my heart faileth me* I am more 
E 



SO THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

guilty than it is possible for another to declare or rep- 
resent My heart speaks more than any other accuser. 
And thou, O Lord, art much greater than my hearty and 
know est all things. 

What has my life been but a course of rebellion 
against thee ? It is not this or that particular action 
alone I have to lament. Nothing has been right in 
its principal views and ends. My whole soul has been 
disordered ; all my thoughts, my affections, my desires, 
my pursuits, have been wretchedly alienated from 
thee. I have acted as if 1 had hated thee, who art in- 
finitely the loveliest of all beings ; as if 1 had been con- 
triving how I might tempt thee to the uttermost, and 
weary out thy patience, marvellous as it is. tyly ac- 
tions have been evil ; my words yet more evil than 
they ; and, O blessed God, my heart how much more 
corrupt than either ! What an inexhansted fountain 
of sin has there been in it ? a fountain of original cor- 
ruption, which mingled its bitter streams with the days 
of early childhood ; and which, alas ! flows on, even to 
this day beyond what actions or words could express. 
I see this to have been the case, with regard to what I 
can particularly survey ; but, oh how many months 
and years have I forgotten \ concerning which I only 
know this in the general, that they are much like those 
I can remember, except it be that I have been growing 
worse and worse, and provoking thy patience more and 
more, though every new exercise of it was more and 
more wonderful. 

And how am I astonished that thy forbearance is still 
continued ? It is, because thou art God, and not man. 
Had I, a sinful worm, been thus injured, I could not 
have endured it. Had I been a prince, I had long 
since done justice on any rebel, whose crimes had 
borne but a distant resemblance to mine. Had I been 
a parent, I had long since cast off the ungrateful child, 
who had made such a return as I have all my life long 
been making to thee, O thou Father of my spirit I The 
flame of natural affection would have been extinguish- 
ed, and his sight, and his very name, would have be- 
come hateful to me. Why then, O Lord, am I not cast 
turfrom thy presence? why am I not sealed up under ap 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 61 

irreversible sentence of destruction ! That I live, I owe 
lo thine indulgence. But, oh, if there be yet any way 
of deliverance, if there be yet any hope for so guilty a 
creature, may it be opened upon me by thy gospel 
and thy grace ! And if any farther alarm, humiliation, 
or terror, be necessary to my security and salvation, 
may I meet them, and bear them all: Wound mine 
heart, O Lord, so that thou wilt but afterwards heal it ; 
and break it in pieces, if thou wilt but at length conde- 
scend lo bind it up ! 



CHAP. V. 

THE SINNER STRIPPED OF HIS VAIN PLEAS. 

The vanity of those pleas, which sinners may secretly confide in, so ap» 
parent, that they will be ashamed, at last, to .mention them before 
God, 1, 2. Such as (1) That they descended from pious parents, 3. 
(2) That they had attended to the speculative part of religion, 4. (3) 
That they had entertained souikI notions, 5. (4) That the\ had ex- 
pressed a zealous regard to religion, and attended the outward forms 
of worship with those they apprehended the purest churches, 6, 7. 
(5) That they had been free from gross immoralities. 8. (6) That 
they did not think the consequence of neglecting religion would have 
been so fatal, 9. (7) That they could not do otherwise than they 
did, 10. Conclusion, 11. With the meditation of a convinced sin- 
ner, giving up his vain pleas before God. 

1. MY last discourse left the sinner in a very alarm- 
ing and a very pitiable circumstance ; a criminal con* 
victed at the bar of God, disarmed of all pretences to 
perfect innocence and sinful obedience^ and consequent- 
ly obnoxious to the sentence of the holy law, which 
can make no allowance for any transgression, no, not 
for the least; but pronounces death and a curse against 
every act of disobedience: How much more then 
against those numberless and aggravated acts of rebell- 
ion, of which, O sinner, thy conscience hath condemn- 
ed thee before God ! i would hope some of my readers 
will ingenuously fall under the conviction, and not 
think of making any apology ; for, sure I am, that hum- 
bly to plead guilty aj the divine bar, is the most de- 
cent, and, all things consjdered } the most prudent thing 
that can be done in such an unhappy circumstance. 



52 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

Yet I know the treachery and the self flattery of a sin- 
ful and corrupted heart. I know what excuses it 
makes, and how, when it is driven from one refuge, it 
flies to another, to fortify itself against full conviction, 
and to persuade, not merely another, but itself, " That 
if it has been in some instances to blame, it is not quits 
so criminal as was represented, that there was at least 
considerations that plead in its favor, which, if they 
cannot justify, will, in some degree, excuse." A se- 
cret reserve of this kind, sometimes perhaps scarce 
formed into a distinct reflection, breaks the force of 
conviction, and often prevents that deep humiliation 
before God, which is the happiest token of an ap- 
proaching deliverance. I will therefore examine into 
some of these particulars ; and for that purpose would 
seriously ask thee, O sinner, what thou hast to offer in 
arrest to judgment ? What plea thou canst urge for 
thysdf why the sentence of God should not go forth 
against thee, and why thou ahouldst not fall into the 
hands of his justice ? 

2. But this I mu3t premise, that the question is not, 
how thou wouldst answer to me, a weak and sinful 
worm like thyself, who am shortly to stand with thee 
at the same bar : The Lord grant that I may find mercy 
of the Lord in that dr m y ! but what wilt thou reply to thy 
Judge ? What couldstthou plead if thou wast now actu- 
ally before his tribunal, where, to multiply vain words, 
and to frame idle apologies, would be but to increase 
thy guilt and provocation ? Surely the very thought of 
his presence must supersede a thousand of those tri- 
fling excuses which now sometimes impose on a gener* 
alien that are pure in their own eyes, though they are not 
washed from their filthiness ; or, while they are con- 
scions of their own impurities, trust in words that can- 
not profit, and lean upon broken reeds. 

3. You will net, to be sure, in such a circumstance, 
plead, " That you are descended from pious parerMs ," 
That was, indeed, your privilege, and wo be to yju that 
you have abused it^ and forsaken the God of your fathers. 
Ishmael was immediaiely descended from Abr. ham, 
the friend of God ; and Esau wasil.e son of Isaac, who 
was born according to the promise ; yet you know, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 53 

they were both cut off from the blessing to which they 
had a kind of hereditary claim. You may remember 
that our Lord does n©t only speak of one who could call 
Abraham father, who was tormented in flames ; but ex- 
pressly declares, that many of the children of the king' 
dom shall be shut out of it, and when others come from 
the most distant parts to sit down in it, shall be distin- 
guished from their companions in misery only by loud- 
er accents of lamentation, and more furious gnashing of 
the teeth. 

4. Nor will you then presume to plead, u That you 
had exercised your thoughts about the speculative part 
of religion;" for to what end can this serve but to in* 
crease your condemnation ? Since you have broken 
God's law, since you have contradicted the most obvious 
and apparent obligations of religion, to have enquired 
into it, and argued upon i*, is a circumstance that 
proves your guilt more audacious. What ? did you 
think religion was merely an exercise of men's wit, 
and the amusement of their curiosity ? If you argued 
about it on the principles of common sense, you must 
have judged and proved it to be a practical thing ; an d 
if it was so, why did not you practise accordingly? 
You knew the particular branches of it ; and why then 
did you not attend to every one of them? To have 
pleaded an unavoidable ignorance would have been the 
happiest plea that could have remained for you : Nay, 
an actual though faulty ignorance, would have been 
some little allay of your guilt.— But if by your own 
confession, you have known your Master's will, and have 
not done it, you bear witness against yourself, that you 
deserve to be beaten with many stripes. 

5. Nor yet again, will it suffice to say, "■ That you 
have had right notions, both of the doctrines and the 
precepts of religion ," Your advantage for practising 
it was therefore the greater ; but understanding and 
acting right can never go for the same thing # in the 
judgment of God or of man. In believing there is one 
God, you have done well ; bat the devils also believe and 
tremble In acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, 
and the Holy One, you have done well too ; but, you 
know, the unclean spirits made this very orthodox coa- 

E2 



54 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

fession, and yet they are reserved in everlasting chains, 
under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day. And 
will you place any secret confidence in that which 
might be pleaded by the infernal spirits as well as by 
you? 

6. But, perhaps you may think of pleading, u That 
you have actually done southing in religion. 1 ' Hav- 
ing judged what faith was the soundest, and what wor- 
ship the purest, you entered yourselves into those so- 
cieties where such articles cf faith \\ ere professed, and 
such forms of worship were practised; and, amongst 
these, you have signalized yourselves by the exactness 
of your attendance, by the zeal with which you have 
espoused their cause, and by the earnestness with which 
you have contended for such principles and practices, 
O sinner, I much fear that this zeal of thine about the 
circumstantials of religion will swell th»ne account, rath- 
er than be allowed in abatement of it. He that search- 
es thine heart knows from whence it arose, and how far 
it extended. Perhaps -he sees that it was all hypocri- 
sy, an artful veil, under which thou wast carrying on 
thy mean designs for this world, while the sacred 
names ofGod and Religion were profaned and prostitu- 
ted in the basest manner ; and if so, thou art cursed 
with a distinguished curse for so daring an insult on the 
divine omniscience, as well as justice. Or perhaps.the 
earnestness with which you have been contending for 
the faith and worship which was on:e delivered to the 
saints, or which, it is possible you may rashly have con- 
cluded to be that, might be mere pride and bitterness 
of spirit; and all the zea) you have expressed might 
possibly arise from a confidence in your own judgment, 
from an impatience of contradiction, or from a secret 
malignity of spirit, which delighted itself in condemn- 
ing, and even in worrying others ; yea, which, if I may 
be allowed the expression, fiercely preyed upon reli- 
gion, as the tyger upon the lamb, to turn it into a na- 
ture most contrary to its own. And shall this screen 
you before the great tribunal ? Shall it riot rather awa- 
ken the displeasure it is pleading to avert ? 

7. But say that this your zeal for notions and forms 
has been ever so well intended, and so far as it has 



OF RELIGION LN THE SOUL. 55 

gone, ever so well conducted too ; what will that avail 
towards vindicating thee in so many instances of negli- 
gence and disobedience as are recorded against thee 
" in the book of God's remembrance VI Were the re- 
vealed doctrines jf the gospel to be earnestly main- 
tained, as indeed they ought, and was the great prac- 
tical purpose for which they were revealed to be for- 
got ? Was the very mint, and annise, and cummin to 
be tithed, and were the weightier matters of the law to be 
omitted? even that love to God which was its first and 
great command ? Oh, how wilt thou be able to vindi- 
cate even the justest sentence thou hast passed on oth- 
ers for their infidelity, or for their disobedience, with- 
out being condemned out of thine own mouth ! 

8. Will you then plead " your fair moral character, 
your works of righteousness and of mercy VI Had your 
obedience to the law of God been complete, the plea 
might be allowed as important and valid : But 
I have supposed an I proved above, that conscience tes- 
tifies to the contrary ; And you will not now dare to 
contradict it. I add farther, had rhese works of yours, 
which you now urge, proceeded from a sincere love to 
God, and a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you 
would not have thought of pleading them any other- 
wise than as an evidence of your interest in the gospel 
covenant, and in the blessings of it, procured b}' the 
righteousness and blood of the Redeemer : And that 
faith, had it been sincere, would have been attended 
with such deep humility, **nd with such solemn appre- 
hensions of the divine holiness and glory ; that, instead 
of pleading any works of your own before God, you 
would rather have implored his pardon for the mixture 
of sinful imperfections attending the very best of them. 
Now, as you are a stranger to this humble and sancti- 
fying principle (which here, in this address, I suppose 
my reader to be) it is absolutely necessary you should 
be plainly and faithfully told, that neither sobriety, 
nor honesty, nor humanity, will justify you before the 
tribunal of God, when he lays judgment to the line^ and 
righteousness to the plummet , and examines all your ac- 
tions, and all your thoughts with the strictest severity. 
You have not been a drunkard, an adulterer or a robber. 



56 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

So far it is well. You stand before a righteous God 
who will do you ample : justice ; and therefore will not 
condemn you for drunkenness, adulter}', or robbery. But 
you have forgotten him, your Parent and your Bene- 
factor ; you have cast off fear, and restrained prayer 
before him ; you have despised the blood of his Son, 
and all the hnmortal blessings which he purchased 
with it. For this, therefore, you are judged and con- 
demned. And as for any thing that has looked like vir- 
tue and humanity in your temper and conduct, the ex- 
ercise of it has, in a great measure, been its own re- 
ward, if there were any thing more than form and arti- 
fice in it ; and the various bounties of divine Providence 
to you, amidst all your numberless provocations, have 
been a thousand times more than an equivalent for such 
defective and imperfect virtues as these You remain, 
therefore, chargeable with the guilt of a thousand offen- 
ces, for which you have no excuse at all ; though 
there are some other instances in which you did not 
grossly offend. And those good works in which you 
have been so ready to trust, will no more vindicate you 
in his awful presence, than a man's kindness to his 
poor neighbors would be allowecfas a plea in arrest of 
judgment, when he stood convicted of high treason 
against his prince. 

9. But you will, perhaps, be ready to say, "You 
did not expect all this : You did not think the conse- 
quences of neglecting religion would have been so fa- 
tal." And why did you not think it? Why did you 
notexamine more attentively and more impartially ? 
Why did you suffer the pride aftd folly of your vain 
heart to take up with such superficial appearance s 4 
and trust the light suggestions of your own prejudiced 
mind against the express declaration of the word of 
God! Had you reflected on his character, as the su- 
preme Governor of the world, you would have seen 
the necessity of such a day of retribution as we are 
now referring to. Had you regarded the scripture, the 
divine authority of which you professed to believe, eve- 
ry page might have taught you to expect it. u Yoa 
did not think of religion ?" and of what were you 
thinking when you forgot or neglected it ? Had you 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 5T 

too much errplovmen of another kind ? Of what kind> 
I beseech yon ? What end could you purpose by any- 
thing' else of equal moment? Nay, with all your en» 
gagements, conscience will tell you that there have 
been seasons when, for want of thought, time and life 
have been a burden to you : Yet you guarded against 
thought as against an enemy, and cast up, as it were, 
an intrenchment of ^consideration around you on eve- 
ry side^ as if it ha J been to defend you from the most 
dangerous invasion God knew you were thoughtless; 
and therefore he sent you line upon line, and precept 
upon precept, in such plain language that it needed no 
genius or study to understand it. He tried you too 
with afflictions as well as with mercies, to awaKen you 
out of your fatal lethargy; and yet when awakened, 
you would lie down again upon the bed of sloth. And 
now, pleasing as your dreams might be, you must lie 
down in sorrow. Reflection has at last overtaken y ou 
and must be heard as a tormentor, since it might not be 
heard as a friend. 

10 But some may, perhaps, imagine r that one im- 
portant apology is yet unheard, and that there may be 
room to sa}% u You were, by the necessity of your na- 
ture, impelled to those things which are now charged 
upon you as crimes ; whereas it was not in your pow- 
er to have avoided them in the circumstances in which 
you were placed." If this will do any thing, it indeed 
promises to do much; so much that it will amount to 
nothing. If I were disposed to answer you upon the 
folly and madness of you" own principles, I might say, 
that the same consideration which proves it was ne- 
cessary for you to offend, proves also that it is neces- 
sary for God to punish you : And that indeed, he 
cannot but do it: And I might further say, with an 
excellent writer of our own age, " That the same prin- 
ciples which destroy the injustice of sins, destroy the 
injustice of punishments too." But, if you cannot ad- 
mit this, if you should still reply in spite of principle, 
that it must be unjust to punish you for an action ut- 
terly and absolutely unavoidable : I really think you 
would answer right. But in that answer you will con- 
tradict your own scheme, as I observed above: And 



58 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

I leave jour conscience to judge what sort of a scheme 
that must be which would make all kind of punishment 
unjust; for the argument will, on the whole, be the 
same, whether with regard to human punishment or 
divine. It is a scheme lull of. confusion and horror. 
You would not, 1 am sure, take it from a servant who 
had robbed you, and then fired your house ; you would 
never inwardly believe, that he could not have helped 
it, or think that he had fairly excused himself by such 
*a plea And, I am persuaded, you would be so far 
from presuming tOTjffer it to God at the great day, that 
you would not venture to turn it into a prayer even 
now. Imagine you saw a malefactor dying with such 
words as these : u O God, it is true, I did indeed rob 
and murder my fellow creature ; but thou knowest 
that, as my circamstances were ordered, I could not do 
otherwise ; my will was irresistibly determined by 
the motives which thou didst set before me ; and I 
could as well have shaken the foundations of the earth, 
or darkened the sun in the firmament, as have resist- 
ed the impulse which bore me on." 1 put it to your 
conscience whether you would not look on such a 
speech as this with detestation, as on* enormity added 
to another. Yet, if the excuse would have any weight 
in your mouth, it would have equal weight in his, or 
would be equally applicable to any the most shocking 
occasion. But indeed, it is so contrary to the plain- 
est principles of common reason, that 1 can hardly per- 
suade myself any one could seriously and thoroughly 
believe it; and should imagine my time very ill em- 
ployed here if I were to set myself to combat those 
pretences to argument, by which the wantonness of 
human wit has attempted to varnish it over. 

11. You, see, then, on the whole, the vanity of all 
your pleas, and how easily the most plausible of them 
might be silenced by a mortal man like yourself; how 
much more, then, by Him who searches all hearts, and 
can in a moment, flash in upon the conscience a most 
powerful and irresistible conviction? What then can 
you do while you stand convicted in the presence of 
God? what shouidyou do but hold your peace under 
an inward sense of your inexcusable guilt, and prepare 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 59 

yourself to hear the sentence which his law pronoun- 
ces against you ? — You must feel the execution of it, 
if the gospel does not at length deliver you ; and yon 
must feel something of the terror of it before you can 
be excited to seek to that gospel for deliverance. 



The Meditation of a convinced Sinner, giving up his 
vain Pleas before God. 

DEPLORABLE condition to which I am indeed 
reduced ! I have sinned ; and what shall I say unto 
thee, O thou Preserver of men ? What shall I dare to 
say ? Fool that I was, to amuse myself with such tri- 
fling excuses as these, and to imagine they could have 
any weight in thy tremendous presence; or that I 
should be able so much as to mention them there ! I 
cannot presume to do it. 1 am silent and confounded. 
My hopes, alas ! are slain, and my soul itself is ready 
to die too, so far as an immortal soul can die ; and I 
am almost ready to say, Oh that I could die entirety ! 
I am indeed a criminal in the hand of justice, quite 
disarmed, and stripped of the weapons in which I trust- 
ed. Dissimulation can ouly add provocation to pro- 
vocation I will therefore plainly and freely own it. 
I have acted as if I thought God was altogether such a 
one as myself; but, he hath said, I will reprove thee ; I 
will set thy sins in order before thine eyes, will marshal 
them in battle array. And, oh, what a terrible kind of 
ho»t do they appear ! and how d6 they surround me 
beyond all possibility of escape ! O my soul, they have, 
as it were, taken thee prisoner ; and they are bearing 
thee away to the divine tribunal. 

Thou must appear before it ! thou must, see the aw- 
ful, eternal Judge, who tries the very reins ; and who 
needs no other evidence, for he has himself been wit- 
new to all thy rebellion. Thou must see him, O my 
soul, sitting in judgment upon thee ; and when he is 
strict to mark iniquity, how wilt thou answer for one of 
a thousand I And if thou canst not answer him, in what 
language will he speak to thee ? Lord, as things at 



m THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

present stand, I can expect no other language thaa 
that of condemnation. And what a condensation is 
it! Let me reflect upon it i Jet me read my sentence 
before 1 hear it finally and irreversibly passed ! 1 know 
he has recorded it in his word ; and I know in the 
general that the representation is made with a gra- 
cious design, i know that he would have us alarmed, 
that we may not be destro)ed. Speak to me there- 
fore, O God, while thou speakest not for the Last time, 
and in circumstances when thou wilt hear me no more. 
— Speak in the language of effectual terror, so that it 
be not to speak me into final despair ; and let thy 
word, however painful in its operation, be quick and 
powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Let 
me not vainly flatter myself; let me not be left a 
wretched prey to those who would prophecy smooth 
things to me, till I am sealed up under thy wrath, and 
feel thy justice piercing my soul, and the poison of thine 
arrows drinking up all my spirits. 

Before 1 enter upon the particular view, I know in 
the general, that it is a terrible thing to fall into the 
hands of the living God. O thou living God, in one 
sense, I am already fallen into thine hands. 1 am be- 
come obnoxious to thy displeasure, justly obnoxious 
to it; and whatever thy sentence may be, when it 
comes forth from thy presence, I must condemn myself 
and justify thee. Thou canst not treat me with more 
severity than mine iniquities have deserved; and how 
bitter soever that cufi of trembling may be, which thou 
shalt appoint for me, I give judgment against myself 
that I deserve to wring qut the very dregs of iu 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 6 1 

CHAP. VI. 

THE SINNER SENTENCED. 

The sinner called upon to hear his sentence, 1, 2. God's law does now 
in general pronounce a curse, 3. It pronounceth death, 4 and being 
turned into hell, 5. The judgment day shall conje, 6. The solemni- 
ty of that grand process described according to scriptural repre- 
sentations of it, 7, 8, with a particular illustration of the sentence, 
"Depart accursed," &c. 9. The execution will certainly and imme- 
diately follow, 10. The sinner warned to prepare for enduring it, 
11. The reflection of a sinner struck with the terror of his sentence. 

1. HEAR O sinner, and I will speak yet once more, 
as in the name of God; of God thine almighty judge, 
who, if thou dost not attend to his servants, will, ere 
long, speak unto thee in a more immediate manner, 
with an energy and terror which thou shalt not be able 
to resist. 

2. Thou hast been convicted as in his presence. 
Thy pleas have been overruled, or rather they have 
jeen silenced. It appears before God, it appears to 
thine own conscience, that thou hast nothing more to 
offer in arrest of judgment ; therefore hear thy sen- 
tence, and summon up, if thou canst, all the powers of 
thy soul to bear the execution of it : It is indeed a very 
small thing to be judged of marts judgment ; but he that 
now judgeth thee is the Lord. Hear, therefore, and 
tremble, while i tell thee how he will speak to thee ; 
or rather while 1 show thee, from express scripture, 
how he doth even now speak, and what is the authentic 
and recorded sentence of his foords, even of his word 
who hath said, heaven and earth shall pass away j but 
not one tittle of my word shall ever pass away, 

3. The law of God speaks, not to thee alone, O sin- 
ner, nor to thee by any particular address; but in a 
most universal language it speaks to all tran^ressors, 
and levels its terrors against all offenders, great or 
small, without any exception ; and this is its language, 
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which 
ere written in the book of the to, to do them. This is 
its voice to the whole world ; and this it speaks to thee* 
Its awful contents are thy personal concern, O reader, 

F 



®2 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and thy conscience knows it. Far from continuing in 
all things that are written therein to do them^ thou canst 
not but be sensible, that innumerable evils have compas* 
sed thee about. It is then manifest, thou art the man, 
whom it condemns ; thou art even now cursed with a , 
curse s as God emphatically speaks, with the curse of the 
most high God ; yea, all the curses which are written in 
the buok of the law are pointed against thee. — God may 
righteously execute any of them upon thee in a mo- 
ment; and though thou at present feelest none ol them, 
yet, if infinite mercy doth not prevent, it is but a little 
while, and they will come into thy bowels like water, till 
thou art burst asunder with them, and shall penetrate 
like oil into thy bones. 

4. Thus saith the Lord, The soul that sinneth shall die. 
But thou hast sinned, and therefore thou art under a 
sentence of death : and, oh, unhappy creature, of what 
a death ! what will the end of these things be ? That 
the agonies of dissolving nature shall seize thee; that 
thy soul shall be torn away from thy languishing body, 
and thou return to the dust from whence thou wast taken ? 
This is indeed one awful effect of sin. In these affect- 
ing characters has God, through all nations, and in all 
ages of men, written the awful register and memorial 
of his holy abhorrence of it, and righteous displeasure 
against it. But alas I all this solemn pomp and horror 
of dying is but the opening of the dreadful scene. It 
is but a rough kind of stroke by which the fetters are 
knocked off, when the criminal is led out to torture and 
«xecution. 

5. Thus saith the Lord, the wicked shall be turned into 
hell,even all the nations thai forget God. Though there 
be whole nations of them, their multitudes and their 
power shall be no defence- to them. They shall be 
driven into hell together ; into that flaming prison 
which divine vengeance hath prepared ; into Tophet, 
which is ordained of old, even for royal sinners as well 
as for others, so little can any human distinction pro- 
tect. He hath made it deep and large, the pile thereof is 
fire and much wood ; the breath of the Lord, like a stream 
of brimstone, shall kindle it ; and the flaming torrent 
shall flow in upon it so fast, that it shall be turned into 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 63 

a sea of liquid lire ; or, as the scripture also expresses 
it, A lake burning with fire and brimstone forever and 
ever ; this is the second death, and the death to which 
(hou, O sinner, by the word of God art doomed. 

6. And shall this sentence stand upon record in vain? 
shall the law speak it, and the gospel speak it? and 
shall it never be pronounced more audibly? and will 
God never require and execute the punishment ? He 
will, O sinner, require it, and he will execute it, though 
he may seem for a while to delay. For well dost thou 
know, that he hath appointed a day in the which he will 
judge the whole world in righteousness, by that Man whom 
he hath ordained, of which he hath given assurance in 
having raised him from the dead. Aud when God judg- 
eth the world, O reader, wheever thou art, he will 
judge thee : And while I remind thee of it, I would al- 
so remember that he will judge me : And knowing the 
terror of the Lord that I may deliver my own soul, I 
would with all plainness and sincerity labor to deliver 
thine. 

7. I therefore repeat the solemn warning: — Thou, 
O sinner, shalt stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, 
Thou shalt see that pompous appearance, the descrip- 
tion of which is grown so familiar to thee, that the 
repetition of it makes no impression on thy mind ; but 
surely, stupid as thou now art, the shrill trumpet of the 
archangel shall shake thy very soul ; and if nothing 
else can awaken and alarm thee, tlje convulsions and 
flames of a dissolving world shall do it. 

8. Dost thou really think that the intent of Christ's 
final appearance is only to recover his people from the 
grave, and to raise them to glory and happiness ? 
Whatever assurance thou hast that there shall be a resur- 
rection of the just, thou hast the same that there shall also 
be a resurrection of the unjust; that he shall separate 
the rising dead one from another, as a shepherd divideth 
his sheep from the goats, with equal certainty, and with 
infinitely greater ease. Or can you imagine that he 
will only make an example of some flagrant and noto- 
rious sinners, when it is said, that all the dead both small 
and great shall stand before God ; and that even he who 
knew not his master's will, and, consequently, seems 



64 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

of all others to have had the fairest excuse for his 
omission to obey it, yet even he, for that very omission, 
shall be beaten though with fewer stripes? Or can you 
fhink that a sentence to- be delivered with so much 
pomp and majesty, a sentence by which the righteous 
judgment of God is to be revealed, and to have its most 
conspicuous and final triumph, will be inconsiderable, 
or the punishment to which it shall consign the sinner 
be slight or tolerable ? There would have been little 
reason to apprehend, that if we had been left barely to 
our own conjectures, what that sentence should be; 
but this is far from being the case. Our Lord Jesus 
Christ, in his infinite condescension and compassion, has 
been pleased to give us a copy of the sentence, and, no 
doubt, a most exact copy; and the words which con- 
tain it are worthy of being inscribed on every heart. 
The King, amidst all the splendor and dignity in which 
he shall then appear, shall scy unto those on his right 
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
prepared for you from the joundation of the world, ; and 
-where the word of a King is, there is power indeed* 
And these words have power which may justly animate 
the heart of the humble Christian under the most over- 
whelming sorrow, and may fill him with joy unspeaka- 
ble, and full of glory. To be pronounced the blessed 
of the Lord ! to be called to a kingdom ! to the imme- 
diate, the everlasting inheritance of it! and of such a 
kingdom ! to well prepared, so glorious, so complete, 
so exquisitely fitted for the delight and entertainment of 
such creatures so formed and so renewed, that it shall 
appear worthy the eternal counsels of God to have 
contrived it, worthy his eternal love to have prepared 
it, and to have delighted himself with the views of be- 
stowing it upon his people ! Behold, a blessed hope in- 
deed ! a lively, glorious hope, to which we are begotten 
again by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and 
formed by the sanctifying influence of *he Spirit of 
God upon our minds I But it is a hope, from which 
thou, O sinner, art at present excluded : And methinks 
it might be grievous to reflect, u These gracious words 
shall Christ speak to some, to multitudes, but not to me ; 
on me there is no blessedness pronounced ; for me 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 65 

there is no kingdom prepared." But is that all ? Alas, 
sinner ! Christ hath given thee a dreadful counterpart 
to this ; he hath told us what he will say to thee, if 
thou continuestas thou art; to thee, and to all the na- 
tions of the impenitent, unbelieving world, be they 
ever so numerous, be the rank of particular criminals 
ever so great. He shall say to the kings of the earth, 
who have been rebels against him, to the great and rich 
men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, as well 
as to every bondman, and every freeman of inferior rank, 
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared 
for the devil and his angels. Oh, pause upon these 
weighty words, that thou mayest enter into something 
of the importance of them ! 

9. He will say, Depart ; you shall be driven from 
his presence with disgrace and infamy; from Him, the 
source of life and blessedness, in a nearness to whom 
all the inhabitants of heaven continually rejoice : You 
shall depart accursed ; you have broken God's law, 
and its curse falls upon you, and you are and shall be 
under that curse, that abiding curse, from that day for- 
ward you shall be regarded by God, and all his crea- 
tures, as an accursed and abominable thing, as the most 
detestable and the most miserable part of the creation: 
You shall go into fire ! and, oh, consider into what 
fire ! Is it merely into one fierce blaze, which shall 
consume you in a moment, though with exquisite pain ? 
that were terrible : But, oh, such terrors are not to be 
named with these : Thine, sinner, is everlasting fire ; 
it is that which our Lord hath in such awful terms de- 
scribed as prevailing there, Where their worm dieth not 
and the fire is not quenched; and then says a second 
time, Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not 
quenched ; and again, in wonderful compassion, a third 
time, Where their worm diethnoi and the fire is not 
quenched. Nor was it originally prepared, or princi- 
pally intended for you ; it wai prepared for the devil 
and his angels ; for those first grand rebels who were, 
immediately upon their fall, doomed to it ; and since 
you have taken part with them in their apostacy, you 
must sink with them in that flaming ruin ; and so much 
the deeper as you have despised a Saviour who was ne- 
F2 



66 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ver offered to thetn. These must be your companions, 
and jour tormentors, with whom you must dwell for- 
ever. And is it I that say this? or says not the law 
and the gospel the same ? Does not the Lord Jesus 
Chdfet expressly say it, Who is the faithful and true 
Witness ? even he who himself is to pronounce the 
sentence. 

10. And when it is thus pronounced, and pronoun- 
ced by him, shall it mot also be executed ? Who could 
imagine the contrary ? who could imagine there should 
be alt this pompous declaration to fill the mind only 
with vain terror, and that this sentence should vanish 
into smoke ? You may easily apprehend, that this 
would be a greater reproach to the divine administra- 
tion than if sentence were never to be passed ; and, 
therefore, we might easily have inferred the execution 
of it from the process of the preceding judgment. 
But lest the treacherous heart of a sinner should de- 
ceive him with so vain a hope, the assurance of that 
execution is immediately added in very memorable 
terms : It shall be done, it shall immediately be done. 
Then, on that very day, while the sound of it is yet in 
their ears, The wicked shall go away into everlasting 
punishment ; and thou, O reader, whoever thou art, be- 
ing found in their number, shalt go away with them ; 
shall be driven on among all these wretched multi- 
tudes, and plunged with them into eternal ruin. The 
wide gates of hell shall be open to receive thee ; they 
shall be shut upon thee forever to inclose thee, and be 
fast barred by the almighty hand of divine justice, to 
prevent all hope, all possibility of escape forever. 

11. And now prepare thyself to meet the Lord thy 
God; summon up all the resolution of thy mind to en- 
dure such a sentence, such an execution as this ; for 
he will not meet thee as a man, whose heart will some- 
times fail him, when about to exert -a needful act of 
severity so that compassion may prevail against reason 
.and-jiistice. No, he will meet thee as a God, whose 
schemes and purposes are all immoveable as bis throne. 
I, therefore, testify to thee in his name this day, if God 
be true, he will thus speak ; and that if he be able, he 
will thus act, And on supposition of thy continuance 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 67 

in thine impenitency and unbelief, thou art brought 
into this miserable case, that if God be not either false 
or weak, thou art undone, thou art eternally undone. 



The Reflection of a Sinner struck with the terror of his 
sentence. 

WRETCH that I am ! what shall I do ? or whith- 
er shall I flee ? I am weighed in the -balance and am 
found wanting. This is, indeed, my doom, the doom 
I am to expect from the mouth of Christ himself, from 
the mouth of him that died for the salvation and redemp- 
tion of men. Dreadful sentence! and so much more 
dreadful when considered in that view ! To what shall 
I look to save me from it ! To whom shall I call ! 
Shall I say to the rocks, Fpll on me, and to the htlls. Co- 
ver me ? What shall I gain by that ? Were I in- 
deed overwhelmed with rocks and mountains, they 
could not conceal me from the notice of his eye ; and 
his hand could reach me with as much ease there as 
any where else. 

Wretch indeed that I am ! Oh that I had nev- 
er been born! Oh that I had never known the 
dignity and prerogative of the rational nature ! Fa- 
tal prerogative, indeed, that renders me obnoxious 
to condemnation and wrath! Oh that I had never 
been instructed in the will of God, at all, rather than 
that being instructed, I should have disregarded and 
trangressed it ! Would to God I had been allied 
to the meanest of the human race, to them that 
Gome nearest to the state of the brutes, rather than 
that I should have had my lot in cultivated life, 
amidst so many of the improvements of reason, and 
(dreadful reflection !) amidst so many of the advanta- 
ges of religion too ! and thus to have perverted all to 
my own destruction ! O that God would take away this 
rational soul i But, alas ! it will live f rever ;*wiil live 
to feel the agonies of eternal death ! Why have I seen 
the beauties and glories of a world like this, to ex- 
change it for a flaming prison ! why have I tasted so 
many of my Creator's bounties, to wring out at last the 



6S THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

dregs of his wrath ! why have I known the designs 

of social Life and friendly converse, to exchange them 
for the horrid company of devils and damned spirits in 
Tophet ! Oh, who can dwell with them in devouring 
Jlames ; who can lie down with them in everlasting, ever- 
lasting, everlasting burnings I 

But whom have i to blame in all this hut myself? 
what have I to accuse but my own stupid, incorrigible 
foily? On what is all this terrible ruin to be charged, 
hut on this one fatal, cursed cause, that, having broken 
God's law, I rejected his gospel too ? 

Yet stay, O my soul, in the midst of all these dole- 
ful, foreboding complaints. Can I say that I have fi- 
nally rejected the gospel ? am I not to this day under 
the sound of it? The sentence is not yet gone forth 
against me in so determinate a manner, as to be ut- 
terly irreversible. Through all this gloomy prospect, 
one ray of hope breaks in, and it is possible I may yet 
be delivered. 

Reviving thought ! rejoice in it, O my soul, tho' 
it be with trembling ; and turn immediately to that 
God who, though provoked by ten thousand offences, 
has not yet sworn in his wrath, that thou shalt never be 
permitted to hold farther intercourse with him, or to 
enter into his rest, 

I do then, O blessed Lord, prostrate myself in the 
dust before thee. I own I am a condemned and mis- 
erable creature : But my language is that of the bumble 
Publican, God he merciful to me a sinner J Some gen- 
eral and confused apprehensions I have of a way by 
which I may possibly escape. O God, whatever that 
way is shew it me, I beseech thee! Point it out so 
plainly, that I may not be able to mistake it ! And, 
oh, reconcile my heart to it, be it ever so humbling, be 
it e^er so painful. 

Surely, Lord, I have much to learn; but be thou 
my teacher ! Stay for a little thine uplifted hand ; 
and, in thine infinite compassion, delay the stroke, 
till I inquire a little farther how I may finally avoid 
it! 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 69 



CHAP. VII. 

THE HELPLESS STATE OF THE SINNER UtfDER CONDEM- 
NATION. 

The sinner urged to consider how he can be saved from this impending 
ruin, 1, 2. (1.) Not by any thing he can offer, 3. (2) Nor by any thing 
he can endure, 4. (3.) .\or by any thing he can do in the course of 
future duty, 5. (4.) Nor by any alliance with fellow sinners on earth, 
or in hell, 6 -8 (5.) Nor by any interposition or intercession of an- 
gels or saints in his favor, 9. Hint of the only method, to be after- 
wards more largely explained, ib. The lamentation of a sinner in 
this miserable condition. 

1. SINNER, thou hast heard the sentence of God, 
as it stands upon record in his sacred and immutable 
word. And wilt thou lie down under it in everlasting 
despair ? wilt thou make no attempt to be delivered 
from it, when it speaks nothing less than eternal death 
to thy soul ? If a criminal condemned by human laws, 
has but the least shadow of hope that he may possibly- 
escape, ne i« all attention to it. If there be a friend 
who he thinks can help him, with what strong impor- 
tunity does he entreat the interposition of that friend ? 
— And even while he is before the judge, how difficult 
is it often to force him away from the bar, while the 
cry of mercy, mercy, mercy, may be heard, though it 
be never so unseasonable ? A mere possibility that it 
may make some impression, makes him eager in it, and 
unwilling to be silenced and removed. 

2. Wilt thou not then, O sinner, ere yet execution 
is done T that execution which may, perhaps, be done 
this very day, wilt thou not cast about in thy thoughts 
what measures may be taken for deliverance ? Yet 
what measures can be taken? Consider attentively; 
for it is an affair of moment. Thy wisdom, thy pow- 
er, thy eloquence or thine interest, can never be exer- 
ted on a greater occasion. If thou canst help thyself, 
do. If thou hast any secre* source of relief, go not out 
of thyself for other assistance. If thou hast any sac- 
rifice to offer, if thou hast any strength to exert ; yea, 
if thou hast any allies on earth, or in the invisible 
world, who can defend and deliver thee, take thine 
own way, so that thou mayest but be delivered at all, 



70 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and we may not see thy ruin. But say, O sinner, in 
the presence of God, what sacrifice thou wilt present, 
what strength thou wilt exert, what allies thou wilt 
have recourse to, on so urgent, so hopeless an occasion ; 
for, hopeless I must indeed pronounce it, if such meth- 
ods are taken. 

3. The justice of God is injured 7 Hast thou any 
atonement to make to it? If thou wast brought to an 
inquiry and proposal, like that of the awakened sinner, 
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord* and bow myself 
before the most high God? Shall I come before him with 
burnt offerings, with calves of a year old ? Will the Lord 
be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of 
rivers of oil ? Alas ! wert thou as great a prince as 
Solomon himself, and couldst thou indeed purchase 
such sacrifices as these, there would he no room to 
mention them, Lebanon would not be sufficient to burn, 
nor all the beasts thereof for a burnt offering. Even un* 
der that dispensation, which admitted and required sac- 
rifices in some cases, the blood of bulls and goats, 
though it exempted the offender from farther temporal 
punishment, could not take away sin, nor prevail |>y 
any means to purge the conscience in the sight of God. 
And that soul that had done ought presumptuously, was 
not allowed to bring any sin offering, or trespass-offer- 
ing at all, but was condemned to die without mercy. 
Now God and thine own conscience know that thine of- 
fences have not been merely the errors of ignorance 
and inadvertency, but that thou hast sinned with a high 
hand, in repeated aggravated instances, as thou hast 
acknowledged already. — Shouldst thou add, with the 
wretched sinner described above, Shall I give my first* 
born for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin 
of my soul ? What could the blood of a beloved child 
do in such a case, but dye thy crimes so much the deep- 
er, and add a yet unknown horror to them ? Thou 
hast offended a Being of infinite Majesty ; and if that 
offence is to be expiated by blood, it must be by another 
kind of blood than that which flows in the veins of thy 
children, or in thine own. 

4. Wilt thou then suffer thyself, till thou hast made 
full satisfaction ? Bi*t how shall that satisfaction be 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 71 

made ? Shall it be by any calamities to be endured in 
this mortal, momentary life ? Is he justice of God, 
then, esteemed so little a thing, that the sorrow of a 
few days should suffice to answer its demands ? Or 
dost thou think of future sufferings in the invisible 
world ? If thou dost, that is not deliverance : And 
with regard to that I may venture to say, When thou 
hast made full satisfaction, thou wilt be released ; when 
thou hast paid the utmost fat thing, of that debt, thy' 
prison doors shall be opened. In the mean time, thou 
must make thy bed in hell ; and, O unhappy man ! wilt 
thou lie down there with a secret hope that the moment 
will come when the rigor of divine justice will not be 
able to inflict any thing more than thou hast endured, 
and when thou mayest claim thy discharge as a matter 
of right ? It would indeed be well for thee if thou 
couldst carry down with thee such a hope, false and 
flatterirg as it is': But, alas ! thou wilt see things in so 
just alight, that to have no comfort but this will be 
eternal despair. That one word of thy sentence, Ev- 
erlasting fire ; that one declaration^ The worm dieth not^ 
and thejireis not quenchea ; will be sufficient to strike 
such a thought into black confusion, and to overwhelm 
thee with hopeless agony and horror. 

5. Or do you think that your future reformation and 
diligence in duty for the time to come will procure 
your discharge from this sentence ? Take heed, sinner, 
what kind of obedience thou thinkest of offering to an 
holy God That must be spotless and complete, which 
his infinite sanctity can approve and accept, if he con- 
sider thee in thyself alone ; there must be no inconstan- 
cy, no forgetfulness, no mixture of sin attending it. 
And wilt thou,enfeebled as then art,by so much original 
corruption, and so many sinful habits contracted by in- 
numerable actual transgressions, undertake to render 
such an obedience, and that for all the remainder of thy 
life ? In vain wouldst thou attempt it even for one day. 
New guilt would immediately plunge thee into new 
ruin : But if it did not ; if from this moment to the 
very end of thy life all were as complete obedience as 
the law of God requires from Adam in Paradise, would 
that be sufficient to cancel past guilt ? would it dis- 



% THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

charge an old debt that thou hadst not contracted a 
new one ? Offer this to thy neighbor, and see if he will 
accept it for payment; and if he will not, wilt thou 
presume to off°r it to thy God ? 

6. But I will not multiply words on so plain a sub- 
ject. While I speak thu*, time is passing away, death 
presses on, and judgment is approaching. And what 
can save thee from these awful scenes, or what can 
protect thee in them? Can the world save thee? 
that vain delusive idol of toy wishes and pursuits, to 
which thou art sacrificing thine eternal hopes? Well 
dost thou know that it will utterly forsake thee when 
theu needest it most; and that not one of its enjoy- 
ments can be carried along with thee into the invisible 
state ; no, not so much as a trifle to remember it by, if 
thou*couldst desire to remember so inconstant and so 
treacherous a friend as the world has been. 

7. And when you are dead, or when you are dying, 
can your sinful companions save you ? Is there any one 
of them, if he were ever so desirous of doing it, that 
can give unto God a ransom for you^ to deliver you from 
going down to the grave, or from going down to hell? 
Alas ! you will probably be sensible of this, that when 
you lie on the border of the grave, you will be un- 
willing to see or to converse with those that were once 
your favorite companions. They will afflict you rath- 
er than relieve you, even then; how much less can 
they relieve you before the bar of God, when they are 
overwhelmed with their own condemnation? 

8. As for the powers of darkness, you are sure they 
will be far from any ability or inclination to help you. 
Satan has been watching and laboring for your des- 
truction, and he will triumph in it. But if there could 
be any thing of an amicable confederacy between you, 
what would that be but an association in ruin ? For 
the day of judgment of ungodly men will also be the 
judgment of these rebellious spirits ; and the fire into 
which thou, O sinner, must depart, is that which was 
prepared for the devil and his angels. 

9. Will the celestial spirits then save thee ? will 
they interpose their power or their prayers in thy fa- 
vor ? An interposition of power when sentence is 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 73 

gone forth against thee, were an act of rebellion a- 
gainst heaven, which those holy and excellent crea- 
tures would abhor And when the final pleasure of 
the Judge is known, instead of interceding, in vain for 
the wretched criminal, they would rather, with ardent 
zeal for the glory of their Lord, and cordial acquies- 
cence in the determination of his wisdom and justice, 
prepare to execute it. Yea, difficult as it may at pres» 
ent be to conceive it, it is a certain truth that the ser- 
vants of Christ, who now most tenderly love you, and 
most affectionately seek your salvation, not excepting 
those who are allied to you in the nearest bonds of na- 
ture, or of friendship, even they shall put their Amen to 
it. Now,indeed. their bowels yearn over you and their 
eye poureth out tears on your account; now they ex- 
postulate with you and plead wiih God for you, if by 
any means, while yet there is hope, you may he plucked 
as a firebrand out of the burning j but alas ! their re- 
monstrances you will not regard ; and as for their pray- 
ers, what should they ask for you ? what but this, that 
you may see yourselves to be undone ; and that, utter- 
ly despairing of any help from yourselves, or from any 
created power, you may lie before God in humility and 
ferokenness of heart ; that, submitting yourselves to his 
righteous judgment, and in an utter renunciation of all 
self dependance, and all creature dependance, you may 
lift up an humble look towards him, as almost from the 
depth* of hell, if peradventure he may have compas- 
sion upon you, and may himself direct you to that only 
method of rescue, which, while things continue as ia 
present circumstances they are, neither earth, nor hell 3 
nor heaven can afford you. 



The Lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition* 

OH doleful, uncomfortable, helpless state ! Oh 
wretch that I am, to have reduced myself to it ! Poor, 
empty, miserable, abandoned creature! Where is my 
pride, and the haughtiness of my heart ! where are my 
idol deities, whom I hacd loved and served, after whom I 
G 



74 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

have walked, and whom I have sought, whilst I have 
been multiplying my transgressions against the Majes- 
ty of heaven ! Is there no heart to have compassion up- 
on me ; is there no hand to save me ? Have pity upon 
me, have pity upon me, O my friends ; for the hand of 
God hath touched me ; hath seized me ! I feel it pressing 
me hard, and what shall I do ? Perhaps they have pity 
upon me : But, alas, how feeble a compassion U Only 
if there be any where in the whole coaipass of nature 
any help, tell me where it may be found ! O point it 
out ; direct me towards it ; or rather, confounded and 
astonished as my mind is, take me by the hand and lead 
me to it. 

ye ministers of the Lord, whose office it is to guide 
and comfort distressed souls, take pity upon me ! 1 fear 
I am a pattern of many other helpless creatures, who 
have the like need of your assistance. Lay aside your 
other cares to care for my soul ; to care for this pre- 
cious soul of mine, which lies as it were bleeding to 
death, if that expression may be used, while you, per- 
haps, hardly afford me a look; or, glancing an eye up- 
on me, pass over to the other side Yet, alas ! in a case 
like mine, what can your interposition avail, if it be 
alone ? If the Lord do not help we, how ^an ye help me ? 

Oh God of the spirits of ail flesh, I lift up mine eyes 
unto thee, and cry unto thee as out of the belly of hell. 
I cry unto thee at least from the borders of it. Yet 
while I lie before thee in this infinite distress, I know 
that thine almighty power and boundless grace can still 
find out a way for my recovery. 

Thou art he whom I have most of all injured and 
affronted ; and yet from thee alone must I now seek re- 
dress. Against thee, thee only^ have I sitined, and done 
evil in thy sight : So that thou mightest be justified when 
thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest, though thou 
shouldst this moment adjudge me to eternal misery. 
And yet I find something that secretly draws me to thee, 
as if I might find rescue there, where I have deserved 
the most aggravated destruction. Blessed God, I have 
destroyed myself ; but in thee is my help, if there can be 
help at all. 

1 know, in the general, that thy ways are not as our 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 75 

ways, nor thy thoughts as our thoughts ; but are as high 
above them as the heavens are above the earth — Have mer- 
cy ', therefore, upon me, O Gud^ according to thy loving 
kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies ! 
Oh point oat the path to the city of refuge ! Oh lead 
me thyself in the way everlasting ! I know, in the gen- 
eral, that thy gospel is the only remedy ! Oh teach thy 
servants to administer it ! Oh prepare mine heart to 
receive it ! and suffer not, as in many instances, that 
malignity which has spread itself through all my na- 
ture to turn that noble medicine into poison ! 



CHAP. VIII. 

NEWS OF SALVATION BY CHRIST, BROUGHT TO THE CON- 
VINCED AND CONDEMNED SINNER. 

The awful things-which have hitherto been said, intended not t* grieve 
but to help, 1. After some reflection on the pleasure with which a 
minister of the gospel may deliver the message with which he is 
charged, 2, and some reasons for the repetition of what is in specula- 
tion so generally known, 3, the author proceeds briefly to declare the 
substance of these glad tidings : viz. That God having, in his infinite 
compassion, sent his Son to die for sinners, is now reconcilable 
through him, 4, — 6 : So tha* the most heinous transgressions shall be 
entirely pardoned to believers, and they made completely and eternal- 
ly happy, 7, 8. The sinner's reflection on this good news. 

1. MY dear reader ! it is the great design of the gos- 
pel, and, wherever it is cordially received, it is the 
glorious effect of it, to fill the heart with sentiments of 
love ; to teach us to abhor all unnecessary rigor and 
severity; and to delight, not in the grief, but in the 
happiness of our fellow creatures. I can hardly ap- 
prehend how he can be a Christian who takes pleasure 
in the distress which appears even in a brute, much 
less in that of a human mind ; and especially, in such dis- 
tress as ihe thoughts I have been proposing must give, 
if there be any due attention to their weight and ener- 
gy. I have often felt a tender regret while I have 
been representing these things ; and I could have 
wished from mine heart that it had not been necessary 
to have placed them in so severe and so painful a light 



76 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

But now I am addressing myself to a part of my work, 
which I undertake with unutterable pleasure ; and to 
that which indeed I had in view, in all those awful 
things which I have already been laying before you. 
I have been shewing you, that, if you hitherto have liv- 
ed in a state'of impenitence and sin, you are condemned 
by God's righteous judgment, and have in yourself no 
sprjpg of hope, and no possibility of deliverance. But 
1 mean not to leave you under this sad apprehension, 
to lie down and die in despair, complaining of that cru- 
el zeal which has tormented you before the time. 

2. Arise, O thou dejected soul, thou art prostrate in 
the dust before God, and trembling under the terrors of 
his righteous sentence : For I am commissioned to tell 
thee, that though thou hast destroyed thyself, in God is 
thy help. I bring thee good tidings of great joy, which 
delight mine own heart while I proclaim them, and 
will, I hope, reach arid revive thice ; even the tidings 
of salvation by the blood and righteousness of the Re- 
deemer. And I give it thee, for thy greater security, 
in the words of a gracious and forgiving God, that he 
is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and not im* 
pitting to them their trespasses, 

3. This is the best sews that ever was heard, the 
most important message which God ever sent to his 
creatures ; and though I doubt not at all, but living, 
as you have done, in a christian country, you have 
heard it often, perhaps a thousand and a thousand 
times, I will with all simplicity and plainness, repeat 
it to you again, and repeat it as if you had never heard 
it before. If thou, O sinner, shouldst now for the first 
time, feel it, then will it be as a new gospel unto thee, 
though so familiar to thine ear ; nor shall it be griev- 
ous for me to speak what is so common, since to you it 
is safe and necessary. They who are most deeply and 
intimately acquainted with it, instead of being cloyed 
and satiated, will hear it with distinguished pleasure ; 
and as for those who have hitherto slighted it, 1 am 
sure they had need to hear it 'again. Not is it abso- 
lutely impossible that some one soul at least, may 
read these lines who hath never been clearly and fully 
instructed in this important doctrine, though his ever- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 77 

lasting all depends on knowing" and receiving it. I will 
therefore take care, that such a one shall not have it 
to plead at the bar of God, that though he lived in a 
christian country, he was never plainly and iaithfully 
taught the doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ, the 
way, the truth % and the life } by whom alone we come unto 
the Father, 

4. I do therefore testify unto you this day, that the 
holy and gracious Majesty of heaven and earth, fore- 
seeing the fatal apostacy into which the whole human 
race would fall, did not determine to deal in a way of 
strict and rigorous severity with us, so as to consign us 
over to universal ruin and inevitable damnation ; but, 
on the contrary, he determined to enter into a treaty 
of peace and reconciliation, and to publish to all, to 
whom the gospel should reach, the express offers of 
life and glory, in a certain method, which his infinite 
wisdom judged suitable to the purity of his nature, and 
the honor of his government. This method was indeed 
a most astonishing one, which, familiar as it is to our 
thoughts and our tongues, 1 cannot recollect and men- 
tion without great amazement. He determined ta 
send his own Son into the world, the brightness of his 
glory, and the express image of his person, partaker of 
his own divine perfections and honors, to be not merely 
a teacher of righteousness and a messenger of grace, 
but also a sacrifice for the sins of men ; and would con- 
sent to his saving them on no other condition but this, 
that he should not only labor but die in the cause. 

5. Accordingly, at such a period of time as infinite 
wisdom saw most convenient, the Lord Jesus Christ ap- 
peared in human flesh ; and after he had gone through 
incessant and long continued fatigues, and borne all the 
preceding injuries which the ingratitude and malice 
of men could inflict, he voluntarily submitted himself fo 
death, even the death oj the cross ; and having been deliv- 
ered for our offences, was raised again for our justification. 
After his resurrection, he continued long enough or 
earth to give his followers convincing evidences of it, 
and then ascended into heaven in their sights and sent 
down his Spint from thence on his apostles, to enable 
them, in the most persuasive and authoritative manner, 

G2 



78 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to preach the gospel ; and he has given it in charge to 
them, and to those who, in every age, succeed them in 
this part of their office, that it should be published to 
every creature ; that all who believe in it may be saved, 
by virtue of its abiding energy, and the immutable pow- 
er and grace of its divine author, who is the same yester^ 
day, to day, and forever. 

6. This gospel I do therefore now preach, and pro- 
claim unto thee, O reader, with the sincerest desire 
that, through divine grace, it may this very day be sal- k 
vation to thy soul. Know therefore, and consider it, 
whosoever thou art, that as surely as these words are 
now before thine eyes, so sure it is that the incarnate 
Son of God was made a spectacle to the world, and to an- 
gels and to men : His back torn with scourges, his head 
with thorns, his limbs stretched out as on a rack, and 
nailed to the accursed tree ; and in this miserable con- 
dition he was hung up by his hands and his feet,as an ob- 
ject of public infamy and contempt. Thus did he die, 
in the midst of all the taunts and insults of his cruel 
enemies, who thirsted for his blood ; and which was 
the saddest circumstance of all, in the midst of these 
agonies with which he closed the most innocent, per- 
fect, and useful lite that ever was spent upon earth, he 
had not those supports of the divine presence which 
sinful men have often experienced when they have been 
suffering for the testimony of their conscience. They 
have often burst out into transports of joy and songs of 
praise while their executioners have been glutting 
their hellish malice, and more than savage barbarity, 
by making their torments artificially grievous ; but the 
crucified Jesus cried out, in the distress of his spotless 
and holy soul, My God,my God,why hast thouforsaken me? 

7. Look upon our dear Redeemer ! Look up to this 
mournful, dreadful, yet, in one view delightful specta- 
cle, and then ask thine own heart. Do ye believe he 
suffered and died thus ? and why did he suffer and die ? 
Let me answer in God's own words, He was wounded 
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, 
and the chastisement of our peace was upon fiim, that by 
his stripes we might be healed ; it pleased the Lord to 
bruise him and to put him to grief when he made his S0ul 



OF RELIGION IS THE SOUL. 79 

an offering for sin ; for, the Lord laid on him the iniquity 
of us all. So that 1 may address you in the words of 
the apostle, Be it known unto you, therefore, that through 
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; as 
it was his command, just after he rose from the dead, 
that repentance and ret nission of sins should be preached in 
his name unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem ; the 
very place where his blood had so lately been shed in 
so cruel a manner. I do therefore testify unto you, in 
the words of another inspired writer, that Christ was 
made sin, that is, a sin-offering, for us, though he knew no 
sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in 
him ; that is, that through the righteousness he has ful- 
filled, and the atonement he has made, we might be ac- 
cepted by God as righteous, and be not only pardoned, 
but received into his favor. To you is the word of sal- 
vation sent ; and to you, O reader, are the blessings of 
it even now offered by God, sincerely offered ; so that 
after all I have said uader the former heads, it is not 
your having broken the law of God that shall prove 
yourruin, if you do not also reject his gospel. It is not 
all those legions of sins which rise up in battle array 
against you that shall be able to destroy you, if Unbe- 
lief do not lead them on, and final impenitence do not 
bring up the rear. I know that guilt is a timorous thing* 
I will therefore speak in the words of God himself; nor 
can any be more comfortable : He that believeth on the 
8on hath everlasting life ; and he shall never come into 
condemnation : There is therefore now no condemnation, 
no kind or degree of it,to them, to any one of them who 
are in Christ Jesus^who walk not after the flesh, but after 
the Spirit. You have indeed been a very great sinner, 
and your offences have truly been attended with most 
heinous aggravations ; nevertheless you may rejoice in 
the assurance, that where sin hath abounded, there shall 
grace much more abound ; that where sin hath reigned unte 
death,where it has had its most unlimited sway,and most 
unresisted triumph, there shall righteousness reign to 
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. That right- 
eousness, to which on believing on him, thou wilt be 
entitled, shall not only break those chains by which sin 
is (as it were) dragging the© at its chariot wheels with 



SO THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

a furious pace to eternal ruin, but it shall clothe thee 
with the robes of salvation, shall fix thee on a throne of 
glory, where thou shalt live and reign forever among 
the princes of heaven j shalt reign in immortal beauty 
and joy, without one remaining fear of divine displeas- 
ure upon thee, without any single mark by which it 
could be known that thou hadst ever been obnoxious to 
wrath and a curse ; except it be an anthem of praise 
to the Lamb that was slain, and has washed thee from thy 
sins in his own blood, 

8. Nor is it necessary, in order to thy being released 
from guilt, and entitled to this high and complete feli- 
city, that thou shouldst, before thou wilt venture to ap- 
ply to Jesus, bring any good works of thine own to re- 
commend thee to his acceptance. — It is indeed true, 
that if thy faith be sincere, it will certainly produce 
them : But I have the authority of the word of God to 
tell thee, that if thou this day sincerely behevest in the 
name of the Son of God,thoa shalt this day be taken un- 
der his care, and be numbered amoag those of his 
sheep, to whom he hath graciously declared, that he 
will give eternal life ; and, that they shall never perish. 
Thou hast no need therefore to say, Who shall go up in* 
to heaven ? or, Who shall descend into the deep for me : 
For the word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thine heart. 
With this joyful message I leave thee ; with this faith- 
ful saying indeed worthy of all acceptation ; with this 
gospel, O sinner, which is my life, and which, if thou 
dost not reject it, will be thine too. 



The sinner's Reflection on this good News. 

OH, my soul, how astonishing is the message which 
thou hast this day received ! I have indeed often heard 
it before, aad it is grown so common to me that the sur- 
prise is not sensible : But reflect, O my soul, what it is 
thou hast heard, and say whether the name of the Sa- 
viour, whose message itis,may not well be called Won- 
ierful Counsellor, when ke displays before thee such 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 81 

wonders of love, and proposes thee such counsels of 
peace ! 

Blessed Jesus, is it indeed thus ? Is it not the fiction 
of the human mind ? surely it is not! What human 
mind could have invented or conceived it ? Is it a plain, 
certain fact, that thou didst leave the magnificence and 
joy c-f the heavenly world in compassion to such a wretch 
as I ? Oh, hadst thou from that height of dignity and fe- 
licity only looked down upon me for a moment, and 
sent same gracious word to me for my direction and 
comfort, even by the least of thy servants, justly might 
I have prostrated myself in grateful admiration, and 
have kissed the very footsteps of him that published 
Salvation. But didst thou condescend to be thyself the 
messenger? What grace had that been though thou 
hadst but once in person made the declaration, and im- 
mediately returned baekto the throne, whence divine 
compassion brought thee down ? But this is not all the 
triumph of thine illustrious gr^ce ; it not only brought 
thee down to the earth, but kept thee here in a frail 
and wretched tabernacle for long successive years, and 
at length it cost thee thy life, and stretched thee out as 
a malefactor upon the cross, after thou hadst bome in- 
sult and cruelty, which it may justly wound my heart 
so much as to think of : And thus thou hast atoned injur- 
ed justice, and redeemed me to God with thine own blood. 

What shall I say? Lord I believe, help thou mine un- 
belief. It seems to put faith to the stretch to admit 
what it indeed exceeds the utmost stretch of imagination 
to conceive. Blessed, for ever blessed be thy name, 
O thou Father of mercies, that thou hast contrived the 
way ! Eternal thanks to the Lamb that was slain, and 
to thai kind Providence that sent the word of this sal- 
vation to me ! Oh let me not for ten thousand worlds 
receive this grace of God in vain ! Oh impress this gos- 
pel upon my soul, lili its saving virtue be diffused over 
every faculty ! Let it not only be heard, and acknowl- 
edged, and professed, but felt ! Make it thy power to 
my eternal salyation ; and raise me to that humble, 
tender gratitude, to that active, unwearied zeal in thy 
service, which becomes one to whom so much is forgiv* 
en s and forgiven upon such terms as these ! 



%% ' THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

I feel a sudden glow in mine heart while these tidings 
are sounding in mine ears ; but, oh ! let it not be a 
slight superficial transport ; Oh let not this which I 
would fain call my Christian joy, be as that foolish 
laughter with which 1 have been so madly enchanted 
like the crackling blaze of thorns under a pot I O teach me 
to secure this mighty blessing,this glorious hope, in the 
method which thou hast appointed ! and preserve me 
from mistaking the joy of nature, while it catches a 
glimpse of its rescue from destruction, for that consent 
of grace which embraces and insures the deliverance. 



CHAP. IX. 

A MORE PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE WAY BY WHICH 
THIS SALVATION IS TO BE OBTAINED. 

An inquiry into the way of salvation by Christ being supposed, 1. The 
sinner is in general directed to repentance and faith, 2; and urged 
to give up all se!f-dependance, 3; and to seek salvation by free grace, 
4. A summary of more particular directions is proposed, 5. (1.) 
That the sinner should apply to Christ, 6, with deep abhorrence of 
his former sins, 7, and a firm resolution of forsaking them, 8. (2.) 
That he solemnly commit his soul into the hands of Christ, the great 
vital act of faith, 9, which is exemplified at large, 10. (3.) That he 
make it in fact the governing care of his future life to obey and imi- 
tateJChrist, 11. This is the only method of obtaining* gospel salva- 
tion, 12. The sinner deliberating on the expediency of accepting it. 

1. I NOW consider you. my dear reader, as coming 
to me with the inquiry which the Jews once addressed 
to our Lord, What shall we do that we may work the 
works of God? what method shall I take to secure that 
redemption and salvation which I am told Christ has 
procured for his people ? I would answer it as serious- 
ly and carefully as possible, as one that knows of what 
importance it is to you to be rightly informed; and 
that knows also how strictly he is to answer to God for 
the sincerity and care with which the reply is made. 
May I be enabled to speak as his oracle, that is, in such 
a manner as faithfully to echo back what the sacred or- 
acles teach. 

2< And here 5 that I mar be sure to follow the safest 



OmELIGION IN THE SOUL. $3 

guides, and the fairest examples, I must preach salva- 
tion to you in the way of repentance towards God, and 
of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; that good old doc- 
trine which the apostles preached, and which no man 
can pretend to change, but at the peril of his own soul, 
and of theirs who attend to him. 

3. I suppose that you are by this time convinced of 
your guilt and condemnation, and of your own inability 
to recover y ourself. Let me, nevertheless, urge you 
to feel that conviction yet more deeply, and to impress 
it with yet greater weight upon your soul ; that you 
have undone yourself, and that in yourself is not your 
help found- Be persuaded therefore, expressly and 
solemnly, and sincerely, to give up all self-dependance, 
which if you do not guard against it, will be ready to 
return secretly, before it is obseived, and will lead you 
to attempt building up what you have just been de- 
stroying. 

4. Be assured, that if ever you are saved, you must 
ascribe that salvation entirely to the free grace of God, 
If guilty and miserable as you are, you are not only 
accepted but crowned, you must lay down your crown, 
with all humble acknowledgment, before the throne. 
JVo Jiesh must glory in his presence ; but he that glorieth 
must glory in the Lord : For of him are we in Christ Je- 
sus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteous' 
ness, and sanctification, and redemption. And you must 
be sensible you are in such a state, as having none of 
these in yourself, to need them in another. You must 
therefore be sensible that you are ignorant and guilty, 
polluted and enslaved or as our Lord expresses it, 
(with regard to some that were under Christian profes- 
sion) that, as a sinner, you are wretched, and miserable, 
and poor, and blind, and naked. 

5. If these views be deeply impressed upon your 
mind, you will be prepared to receive what 1 am now 
to say. Hear, therefore, in a few words, your duty, 
your remedy and your safety, which consists in this, 
" That you must apply to Christ with a deep* abhor- 
rence of your former sins and a firm resolution of for- 
saking them : Forming that resolution in the strength 
©f his grace, and fixing your dependance on him for 



U THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

your acceptance with God, even while you are pur- 
posing to do your very best j and when you have act- 
ually done the best you ever will do in consequence of 
that purpose." 

6. The first and most important advice that I can 
give you in the present circumstances, is, " That you 
look to Christ, and apply yourself to him" — And here 
say not in your heart. Who shall ascend into heaven, to 
bring him down to me ? or, VVho shall raise me up thi- 
ther to present me before him ? The blessed Jesus, 
by whom all things consist, by whom the whole system 
of them is supported, forgotten as he is by most that 
bear his name, is not far from any of us ; ner could he 
have promised to have been, wherever two or three are 
met together in his name, but in consequence of those 
truly divine perfections by which he is every where 
present. Would you therefore, O sinner, desire to be 
saved? go to the Saviour : Would you desire to be de- 
livered, look to that great Deliverer; and though you 
should be so overwhelmed with guilt and shame, and 
fear, and horror, that you should be incapable of speak- 
ing to him, fall down in this speechless confusion at his 
feet, and behold him as the Lamb of God, that taketh 
msoay the % sin of the world* 

1. Behold him therefore with an attentive eye, an4 
say whether the sight does not touch and even melt thy 
very heart? Dost thou not feel what a foolish and 
what a wretched creature thou hast been, that for the 
sake of such low and sordid gratifications and interests 
as those which thou hast been pursuing, thou shouldst 
thus kill the Prince of life. Behold the deep wounds 
which he bore for thee. — Look on him whom thou hast 
pierced, and surely thou must mourn, unless thine heart 
be hardened into stone. Which of thy past sins canst 
thou reflect upon, and say, " For this it was worth ray 
while thus to have injured my Saviour, and to have ex- 
posed the Son of God to such suffering? !" and what fu- 
ture temptations can arise so considerable, that thou 
shouldst say, For the sake of this I will crucify my Lord 
again ? Sinner thou must repent of every sin, and must 
forsake it: But if thou dost it to any purpose, 1 well 
know it must be as at the foot of the cross. Thou 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 85 

must sacrifice every lust, even the dearest, though ife 
should be a right hand, or a right eye ; and therefore, 
that thou mayest if possible, be animated to it, I have 
led thee to that altar, on which Christ himself was sac- 
rificed for thee, an offering of a sweet smelling savor. 
Thou must yield up thyself to God as one aliie from the 
dead; and therefore I have showed thee at what a 
price he purchased thee : For thou wast not redeemed 
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the 
precious blood of the Son of God, that Lamb without 
blemish and without spot. And now 1 would ask thee, 
as before tne Lord, what does thine own heart say to 
it? Art thou grieved for thy former offences? art 
thou willing to forsake thy sins ? art thou willing to be- 
come the cheerful, thankful servant of him, " who 
hath purchased thee with his own blood ?" 

8. 1 will suppose such a purpose as this rising in 
thine heart ; how determinate it is, and how effectual 
it may be, I know not; what different views may arise 
hereafter, or how soon the present sense may wear 
off: But this I assuredly know, that thou wilt never 
see reason to change these views ; for however thou 
mayest alter, the Lord Jtsu$ Christ is the same yesterday , 
to-day, and forever : And the reasons that now recom- 
mend repentance and faith, as fit and necessary, will 
continue invariable, as long as the perfections of the 
blessed God are the same, and as long as his Son con- 
tinues the same. 

9, But while you have these views and these pur- 
poses, I must remind you, that this is not all that is ne- 
cessary to your salvation. You must not only purpose^ 
but, as God give opportunity, you must act as those 
who are convinced of the evil of sin, and of the neces- 
sity and excellence of holiness: And that you may be 
enabled to do so in other instances, you must in the 
first place, and as the first great work of God, (as our 
Lord himself calls it,) believe in him whom God hath 
sent. You must confide in him, c< must commit your 
soul into the hands of Christ, to be saved by him in his 
own appointed method of salvation. " This is the 
great act of saving faith ; and I pray God that you may 

H 



S6 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

experimentally know what it means, so as to be able to 
say with the apostle Paul, in the near view of death 
itself, u I know whom I have believed, and am persua- 
ded that he is able to keep that which I have commit- 
ted to him until that day;" that great decisive day, 
which, if we are Christians, we have always in view. 
To this I would urge you ; and oh that I could be so 
happy as to engage you to it while 1 am illustrating it 
in this and the following addresses ! Be assured you 
must not apply yourselves immediately to God, as abso- 
lutely or in himself considered, in the neglect of a 
Mediator. It will neither be acceptable to him, nor 
safe for you, to rush into his presence without any re- 
gard to his own Son, whom he hath appointed to intro- 
duce sinners to him ; and if you come otherwise, you 
come as one who is not a sinner : The very manner of 
presenting the address will be interpreted as a denial 
of that guilt with which he knows you are chargeable ; 
and therefore he will not admit you, nor so much as 
look upon you. — And accordingly, our Lord knowing 
how much every man living was concerned in this, says 
in the most universal terms, No man cometh to the Fath- 
er but by me, 

10. Apply therefore to this glorious Redeemer, a- 
miable, (as he will appear to every believing eye) in 
the blood which he shed upon the cross, and in the 
wounds which he received there. Go to him, O sin- 
ner, this day, this moment, with ail thy sins about thee. 
Go just as thou art ; for if thou wilt never apply to him 
till thou art first righteous and holy, thou wilt never be 
righteous and holy at all ; nor canst be so on this sup- 
position, unless there were some way of being so with- 
out him, and then there would be no occasion for apply- 
ing to him for righteousness and holiness. It were in- 
deed as if it should be said, that a sick man should de- 
fer his application to a physician till his health be re- 
covered. Let me, therefore, repeat it without offence, 
go to him just as thou art, and say, (Oh that thou may- 
est this moment be enabled to say it from thy very 
soul !) 4t Blessed Jesus, I am surely one of the most 
sinful, and one of the most miserable creatures that ev- 
er fell prostrate before thee ; nevertheless, I come be- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 87 

cause I have heard that thou didst once say, Come unto 
me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest, 
I come, because I heard that thou didst graciously say, 
He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. O 
thou Prince of peace, O thou King of glory, lam a 
condemned, miserable sinner. 1 have ruined my own 
soul, and am condemned forever, if thou do3t not help 
me and save me. I have broken thy Father's law, and 
thine, for thou art one with him. I have deserved con- 
demnation and wrath, and I am, even at this very mo- 
ment, under a sentence of everlasting destruction ; a 
destruction which will be aggravated by all the con- 
tempt which I have cast upon thee, O thou bleeding 
Lamb of God ; for I cannot, and will not, dissemble it 
before thee, that I have wronged thee, most basely and 
ungratefully wronged thee, under the character of a 
Saviour as well as of a Lord ; but now I am willing to 
submit to thee ; and I have brought my poor, trembling 
soml to lodge it in thine hands, if thou wilt condescend 
to receiva it, and if thou dost not it must perish. O 
Lord, I lie at thy feet ; stretch out thy golden sceptre that 
I may live ! — yea, if it please the~King, let the life of my 
soul be given me at my petition! 1 have no treasure 
wherewith to purchase it; I have no equivalent to give 
for it ; but if that compassionate heart of thine can 
find a pleasure in saving one of the most distressed 
creatures under heaven, that pleasure thou mayest 
here find. O Lord, I have foolishly attempted to be 
mine own Saviour, but it will not do; I am sensible the 
attempt is vain ; and therefore I give it over, and look 
unto thee. On thee, blessed Jesus, who art sure and 
stedfast, do I desire to fix my anchor: On thee, as the 
only sure foundation, would I build my eternal hopes : 
To thy teaching, O thou unerring Prophet of the 
Lord, would I submit: Be thy doctrines ever so myste- 
rious, it is enough for me that thou thyself hast said it : 
To thine atonement, obedience, and intercession, O 
thou holy and ever acceptable High Priest, would I 
trust, and to thy government, O thou exalted Sove- 
reign, would I yield a willing, delightful subjection. In 
token of reverence and love, I kiss the. Son ; I kiss the 
ground before his feet: I admit thee, O ray Saviour, 



88 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and welcome thee with unutterable joy, to the throne 
in my heart: Ascend it, and reign there forever ! sub- 
due mine eremies, O Lord, for they are thine ; and 
make me thy faithful, thy zealous servant ; faithful to 
death, and zealous to eternity !" 

11. Such as this must be the language of your very 
heart before the Lord. But then remember, that in 
consequence hereof, it must be the language of your 
life too. The unmeaning words of the lips would be 
a vain mockery. The most affectionate transport of 
the passions, should it be transient and ineffectual, 
would be but like a blaze of straw presented instead of 
incense at his altar. With such humility, with such 
love, with such cordial self-dedication, and submission 
of soul, must thou often prostrate thyself in the pres- 
ence of Christ : And then thou must go away, and 
keep him in thy view ; must go away, and live unto 
God through him, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 
and behaving thyself soberly, righteously, and * godly, in 
this vain ensnaring world. You must make it your care 
to shew your love by obedience ; by forming yourself 
as much as possible according to the temper and man- 
ner of Jesus, in whom you believe. You must make 
it the great point of your ambition, (and a nobler view 
you cannot entertain) to be a living image of Christ ; 
that$ so far as circumstances will allow, even those 
who have heard and read but little of him may, by ob- 
serving you, in some measure see and know what kind 
of a life that of the blessed Jesus was. And this must 
be your constant care, your prevailing character, as 
long as you live. You must follow him whithersoever 
he leads you ; you must follow him with a cross on 
your shoulder* when he commands you to take it up; 
and so must be faithful even unto death, expecting the 
crown of life. 

12. This, 30 far as I have been able to learn from 
the word of God, is the way to safety and glory; the 
surest, the only way you can take. It is the way which 
every faithful minister of Christ has trod, and is tread- 
ing ; and the way to which,, as he tenders the salvation 
of his own soul, he must direct others. We cannot, 
we would not, alter it in favor of ourselves or of our 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. U9 

dearest friends. It is the way in which alone, so far as 
we can judge, it becomes the blessed God to save his 
apostate creatures. And therefore, reader, I beseech 
and intreat you seriously to consider it ; and let your^ 
own conscience answer, as in the presence of God, 
whether you are willing" to acquiesce in it or not But 

know, that to reject it is thine eternal death. For as 

there is no other name under heaven given among men 
'whereby we can be saved, but this of Jesus of Nazareth, 
so there is no other method but this in which Jesus 
himself will save us. 



The Sinner Deliberating on the Expediency of falling 
in with this Aiethod of Salvation, 

CONSIDER, O my soul, what answer wilt thou re- 
turn to such proposals as these? Surely, if I were to 
speak the first dictate of this corrupt and degenerate 
heart, it would be, This is a hard saying and who can 
bear it ? To be thus humbled, thus mortified, thus sub- 
jected ! To take such a yoke upon me, and to carry it 
as long as I live ! To give up every darling lust, though 
dear to me as a right eye, and seemingly necessary as a 
right hand ! to submit, not only my life, but my heart, 
to the command and. discipline of another! To have a 
Master there, and such a master as will control many 
of its favorite affections, and direct them quite into 
another channel ; A Master, who himself represents 
his commands by taking up the cross and following him ! 
To adhere to the strictest rules oi godliness and sobri- 
ety, of righteousness and truth : Not departing from 
them, in any allowed instance, great or small, upon any 
temptation, for any advantage, to escape any inconven- 
ience and evil, no, not even for the preservation of 
life itself; but upon a proper call of providence, to 
act as if I hated even my own life! Lo?d, it is hard to 
flesh and blood ; and yet I perceive and feel there is 
one demand yet harder than this. 

With all these precautions, with all these mortifica- 
H2 



90 . THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

tioas, the pride of my nature would find some inward 
recourse of pleasure, might! but secretly think that I 
had been my own Saviour; that my own wisdom and 
my own resolution had broken the bands and chains of 
the enemy ; and that I had drawn out of my own trea- 
sures the price with which my redemption was pur- 
chased. But must I lie down before another, as guilty 
and condemned, as weak and helpless ? and must the 
obligation be multiplied, and must a Mediator have his 
share too ? must 1 go to the cross for my salvation, and 
seek my glorj' from the infamy of that ? must I be 
stripped of every pleasing pretence to righteousness, 
and stand in this respect upon a level with the vilest of 
men? stand at the bar among the greatest criminals, 
pleading guilty with them, and seeking deliverance by 
that very act of grace whereby they have obtained it ? 
I dare not deliberately say this method is unreasona- 
ble. My conscience testifies that I have sinned, and 
cannot be justified before God as an innocent and obe- 
dient creature. My conscience tellsme that all these 
humbling circumstances are fit; that it is fit a convict- 
ed criminal should be brought upon his knees; that a 
captive rebel should give up the weapons of his re : 
hellion, and bow before his sovereign, if he expects his 
life. Yea, my reason as well as my conscience tells me 
that it is fit and necessary that, if I am saved at all, I 
should be saved from the power and love of sin, as well 
as from the condemnation of it ; and that if sovereign 
mercy gives me a new life, after having deserved eter-* 
nal death, it is most fit J should yield myself to God as 
alive from the dead. But, O wretched man that I am, I 
feel a law in my members that wars against the law of my 
mind, and opposes the conviction of my reason and con- 
science. Who shall deliver me from this bondage ? 
Who shall make me willing to do that which I know in 
my soul to be most expedient ? O Lord, subdue my 
heart, and let it y not be drawn so strongly one way, 
while the nobler powers of my mind would direct it 
another ! Conquer every licentious principle within, 
that it may be my joy to be wisely governed and re- 
strained! especially subdue my pride, that lordly cor- 
ruption which so ill suits an impoverished and condem- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 91 

ned creature ; that thy way of salvation may be amia- 
ble to me, in proportion to the degree in which it is 
humbling ! I feel a disposition to linger in Sodom, but, 
oh, be merciful tr> me, and pull me out of it, before the 
storms of thy flaming vengeance la?!, and there be no 
more escaping ! 



CHAP. X. 

THE SINNER SERIOUSLY URGED AND INTREATED TO AC 
CEFT OF SALVATION IN THIS WAY. 

Since many, who have been impressed with these things?, suffer the im- 
pression to wear off in vain, 1. Strongly as the case speaks for itself, 
sinners are to be entreated to accept this salvation, 2. Accordingly 
the reader is intreated, (1.) By the majestv and mercy of God, 3, [2.] 
By t>he dying love of our Lord Jesus Christ 4, [3.] By the regard due 
to fellow-creatures, 5. [4] By the worth of his own immortal soul, 6. 
The matter is solemnly left with the reader, as before God, 7. The 
sinner yielding to these intreaties, and declaring his acceptance of 
salvation by Christ. 

1. THUS far have I often known convictions and 
impressions to arise, (if I might judge by the strongest 
appearances,) which, after all, have worn off again. 
Some unhappy circumstances of external temptation, 
ever joined by the inward reluctance of an unsanctified 
heart, to this holy, and humbling scheme of redemp- 
tion, has been the ruin of multitudes. And through the 
deceitfulrwss oj sin, they have been hardened, till they 
seem to have been utterly destroyed, and that without 
remedy. And therefore, O thou immortal creature, 
who art now reading these lines, I beseech thee, that 
while affairs are in this critical situation; while there 
are these balancings of mind between accepting and 
rejecting that glorious gospel, which, in the integrity 
of my heart, I have now been laying before you, you 
would once more give me an attentive audience, while 
I plead in God's behalf, (shall I say ?) or rather in your 
own ; while a$ an ambassador for Christ, and as though 
God did beseech you by me, I pray you in Christ s stead, 
that you would be reconciled to God ; and would not, af- 
ter these awakenings, and these enquiries, by a mad- 



92 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

tiess, which it will surely be the doleful business of a 
miserable eternity to lament, reject this compassionate 
counsel of God towards you. 

2< One would, indeed, imagine there should be no 
need of importunkj here. One would conclude, that 
as soon as perishing sinners are told that an offended 
God is ready to be reconciled; that he offers them a 
full pardon for all their aggravated sins ; yea, that he 
is willing to adopt them into his family now, that he 
may at length admit them to his heavenly presence ; 
all would, with the utmost readiness and pleasure, 
embrace so kind a message, and fall at his feet in 
speechless transports of astonishment, gratitude, and 
joy. But, alas ! we find it much otherwise. We see 
multitudes quite unmoved, and the impressions which 
are made on many more, are feeble and transient. 
Lest it should be thus with you, O reader, let me urge 
the message with which I have the honor to be charg- 
ed ; let me entreat you to be reconciled to God, and ta 
accept of pardon and salvation in the way in which it is 
so freely offered to you. 

3. I entreat you, by the majesty of that God, in 
whose name I come; whose voice fills all heaven with 
reverence and obedience. He 9peaks not in vain to 
legions of angels ; but if there could be anyixontention 
among those blessed spirits, it would be, who should 
be first to execute his commands. O let him not speak 
in vain to a wretched mortal! I entreat you "by the 
terrors of his wrath," who could speak to youin thun- 
der; who could, by one single act of his will, cut off 
this precarious life of yours, and send you dowa to 
hell. 1 beseech you by his mercies, by his tender 
mercies ; by the bowels of his compassion which still 
yearn over you, as those of a parent over a dear son, 
over a tender child, whom, notwithstanding his former 
ungrateful rebellions, he earnestly remembers still I 
beseech and entreat you, by all this paternal goodness, 
that you do not (as it were) compel him to lose the 
character of the gentle parent in that of the judge ; so 
that (as he threatens with regard to those whom he had 
just called his sons and his daughters) a fire should be 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 93 

kindled in his anger, which should burn unto the lowest 
hell. 

4. I beseech you farther, by the name and love of 
our dying Saviour; I beseech you by ail the conde- 
scension of his incarnation : By that poverty to which 
he voluntarily submitted, that you might be enriched 
with eternal treasures ; by all the gracious invitations 
which he gave, which still sound in his word, and still 
coming (as it were) warm from his heart, and sweeter 
than honey, or the honey comb, I beseech you by all 
his glorious works of power and wonder, which were 
also works of love* I beseech you by the memory of 
the most benevolent person, and the most generous 
friend. I beseech you by the memory of what he suf- 
fered, as well as of wh^t he said and did ; by the ago- 
ny which he endured in the garden, when his body 
was covered with a dew of blood. I beseech you by 
all that tender distress which he felt, when his dearest 
friends forsook him and fled, and his blood-thirsty ene- 
mies dragged him away, like the meanest of slaves, 
and like the vilest of criminals. I beseech you by 
the blows and bruises, by the stripes and lashes, which 
this injured Sovereign endured while in their rebel- 
lious hands ; by the shame of spitting, from which he 
hid not that kind and venerable countenance. I be- 
seech you by the purple robe, the sceptre of reed, and 
the crown of thorns, which this King of glory wore, 
that he might set us among the princes of heaven. I 
beseech you by the heavy burden of the cross, under 
which he panted, and toiled, and fainted, m the pain- 
ful way to Golgotha, that he might free us from the 
burden' of our sins. I beseech you by the remem- 
brance of those rude nails that tore the veins and ar- 
teries, the nerves and tendons, of his sacred hands ^nd 
feet ; and by that invincible, that triumphant goodness, 
which, while the iron pierced his flesh, engaged him 
to cry out, Father forgive them ; for they know not 
what they do* I beseech you- by the unutterable an- 
guish which he bore when lifted up on the cross, and 
extended there as on a rack, for six painful hours, that 
you open your heart to those attractive influences, 
which have drawn to him thousands and ten thous- 



94 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ands, I beseech you by all that insult aad derision 
which the Lord of glory bore there ; by that parching 
thirst, which could hardly obtain the relief of vine- 
gar: By that doleful cry, so astonishing in the mouth 
of the only begotten of the Father, My God, my God, 
why hast thou forsaken me ? I beseech you by the 
grace that subdued and pardoned a dying malefactor ; 
by that compassion for you, which wrought in his heart, 
long as its vital motion continued, and which Wided 
not when he bowed his head, saying, It is finished, and 
gave up the ghost. I beseech you by the triumphs of 
that resurrection, by which he was declared to be the 
Son of Gad with power* by the Spirit of holiness which 
wrought to accomplish it ; by that gracious tender- 
ness which attempered all those triumphs when he 
said to her out of whom he had cast seven devils, con- 
cerning his disciples who had treated him so basely, 
Go, tell my brethren, I ascend unto my Father and your 
Father, unto my God and your God. I beseech you by 
that condescension with which he said to Thomas, 
when his unbelief had such an unreasonable demand, 
Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands ; and 
reach hither thine hand, and put it int& my side ; and be 
not faithless but believing I beseech you by that gen- 
erous and faithful care of his people, which he carried 
up with him to the regions of glory, and whiclf enga- 
ged him to send down his Spirit, in that rich profusion 
of miraculous gifts, to spread the progress of his sav- 
ing word. I beseech you by that voice of sympathy 
and power with which he said to Saul, while injuring 
his church* Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? by 
that generou c goodness which spared that prostrate 
enemy, when he lay trembling at his feet, and raised 
him to so high a dignity as to be not inferior to the 
very chiefest apostles. I beseech you by the memory 
of ail that Christ hath already done, by the expect- 
ation of all he will farther do, for his people. 1 be- 
seech you at once, by the sceptre of hi£ grace, and by 
that sword of his justice, with which all his incorrigi- 
ble enemies shall be slain before him, that you do not 
trifle away these precious moments while his Spirit is 
thus breathing upon you ? that you do not lose an op- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOtJL. 95 

portunity which may never return, and on the improve- 
ment of which your eternity depends. 

5- I beseech you by all the bowels of compassion 
which you owe to the faithful ministers of Christ, who 
are studying and laboring, preaching and praying, 
wearing out their time, exhausting their strength, and, 
very probably, shortening their lives, for the salvation 
of your soul, and of souls like yours. I beseech you 
hy the affection with which all that love our Lord Je- 
sus Christ in sincerity, long to see you brought back 
to him. I beseech you by the friendship of the living, 
and by the memory of the dead ; by the ruin of those 
who have trifled away their days, and are perishing in 
their sins, and by the happiness of those who have em- 
braced the gospel, and are saved by it. I heseech you 
hy the great expectation of that important day, when 
the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven ; hy the ter» 
rors of a dissolving world ; by the sound of the arch an* 
geVs trumpet, and of that infinitely more awful sentence, 
Come ye blessed^ and Depart ye cursed, with which that 
grand solemnity shall close. 

6. I beseech you, finalty, by your own precious and 
immortal soul ; by the sure prospect of a dying bed, 
or a sudden surprise into the invisible state ; and as 
you would feel one sparkle of comfort in your depart- 
ing spirit, " when your flesh and your heart are fail- 
ing." I beseech you by your own personal appear- 
ance before the tribunal of Christ, (for a personal ap- 
pearance it must be, even to them who now sit on 
thrones of their own ;) by all the transports of the bles- 
sed, and by all the agonies of the damned, the one or 
the other of which mu§t be your everlasting portioa. 
I affectionately intreat and beseech you, in the strength 
of all these united considerations, as you will answer it 
to me who may, in that day, be summoned to testify 
against you ; and, which is unspeakably more, as you 
will answer it to your conscience, as you will answer 
it to the eternal Judge ; that you dismiss not these 
thoughts, these meditations, and these cares, till you 
have brought matters to a happy issue ; till you have 
made a resolute choice of Christ, and his appointed 



96 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

way of salvation, and till you hare solemnly devoted 
yourself to God in the bonds of an everlasting covenant. 
7. And thus I leave the matter before you, and be- 
fore the Lord 1 have told you my errand, I have dis- 
charged my embassy. Stronger arguments I cannot 
use | more endearing and more awful considerations I 
cannot suggest. Choose therefore, whetner you will 
go out (as it were) clothed in sackcloth, to cast your- 
self at the feet of him who now sends you these equita- 
ble and gracious terms of peace and pardon, or, wheth- 
er you will hold it out till he appears, sword in hand, 
to reckon with you for your treasons and ycur crimes, 
and for this neglected embassy among the rest of 
them ? Fain would 1 hope the best ; nor can I believe 
that this labor of iove shall be so entirely unsuccess- 
ful, that not one soul shall be brought to the foot of 
Christ in cordial submission and humble faith. Take 
with you, therefore, words, and return unto the Lord ; 
and, oh that those which follow might, in effect at least, 
be the genuine language of every one that reads them. 



The sinner, Yifxding to those .In treaties, and declaring his 
acceptance of Salvation by Christ. 

BLESSED Lord, it is enough, it is too much ! Sure- 
ly there needs not this variety of arguments, this im- 
portunity of persuasion, to court me to be happy, to 
prevail upon me to accept of pardon, of life, ol eternal 
glory. Compassionate Saviour, my soul is subdued ; 
so that, I trust, the language of thy grief is become 
that of my penitence, and 1 may 9ay, My heart is melted 
like wax in the midst of my bowels. 

O gracious Redeemer ! 1 have already neglected 
thee, too long, 1 have too often injured thee ; 1 have 
crucified thee afresh by my guilt and impenitence, as if 
I had taken pleasure m putting thee to an open shame ; 
but my heart now bows itself before thee in humble, 
unfeigned submission. I desire to make no terms with 
thee but these — that I may be entirely thine. I cheer- 
fully present thee with a blank, intreating thee that 



GF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. ST 

thou wilt do me the honor to signify upon it what is 
thy pleasure. Teach me, O Lord, " what thou wouldst 
have me to do !" for I desire to learn the lesson, and 
to learn it that I may practice it. If it be more than 
my feeble powers can answer, thou wilt, 1 hope, give 
me more strength, and in that strength I will serve 
thee. Oh receive a soul which thou h&st made willing 
to be thine ! 

No more, O blessed Jesus I no more is it necessary 
to beseech and intreat me. Permit me rather to ad- 
dress myself to thee, with all the importunity of a per- 
ishing sinner, that at length, sees and knows there is 
salvationin no other ! Permit me now, Lord, to come 
and throw myself at thy feet, like a helpless outcast, 
that hath no shelter but in thy generous compassion ! 
like one pursued by the avenger of bloody and seeking 
earnestly an admittance into the city of refuge. 

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait ; and in thy word 
I hope that thou wilt receive me graciously, My soul 
confides in thy goodness, and adores it I adore the 
patience which has borne with me so long, and the 
grace that now makes me heartily willing to be thine, 
to be thine on thine own terms thine on any terms. 
O secure this treacherous heart to thyself ! Oh, unite 
me to thee in such inseparable bonds, that none of the 
allurements of flesh and blood, none of the vanities of 
an ensnaring world, none of the solicitations of sinful 
companions, may draw me back from thee, and plunge 
me into new guilt and ruin ! Be surety, O Lordv for thy 
servant for good ; that I may still keep my hold on 
thee, and so on eternal life ; till at length I know more 
fully by joyful ancl everlasting experience, how com* 
plete a Saviour thou art ! Amen. 



THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XI. 

A SOLEMN ADDRESS TO THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE PER. 
SUADED TO FALL IN WITH THE DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. 

Universal success not to be expected, l,yet, as unwilling absolutely to 
gire up any, the author addresses, (1.) To those who doubt of the 
truth of Christianity, urging an enquiry into its evidences and direct- 
ing to proper methods for that purpose, 2 — 4. (2.) To those who de- 
termine to give it up without further examination, 5, and presume to 
set themselves to oppose it, 6. (3,) To those who speculatively assent 
to Christianity as true, and yet will sit down without any practical re- 
gard to its most important and acknowledged truths. Such are dis- 
missed with a representation of the absurdity of their conduct on 
their own principles, 7, 8, with a solemn warning of its fatal conse- 
quences, 9, 10, and a compassionate prayer, (introduced, 11,) which 
concludes the ehapter, and this part of the work. 

1. 1 WOULD humbly hope that the preceding chapters 
will ^e the means of awakening some stupid and insen- 
sible sinners ; the means of convincing them of their 
need of gospel salvation, and of engaging some cordial- 
ly to accept it. Yet I cannot flatter myself so far as to 
hope this should be the case with regard to all into 
whose hands this book shall come. What am I, alas 
better than my fathers, or better than my brethren, who 
have in all ages been repeating their complaints, with 
regard to multitudes, that they have stretched out their 
hands all the day long to a disobedient and gainsaying peo- 
ple ? Many such may, perhaps, be found in the num- 
ber of my readers; many, on whom neither considera- 
tions of terror nor of love will make any deep and last- 
ing impression, many who, as our Lord learned by ex- 
perience to express it, when we pipe unto them, will not 
dance, and when we mourn unto them, will not lament. I 
can say no more to persuade them, if they make light 
of what I have already said. Here therefore, we must 
part ; in this chapter 1 must take my leave «f them ; and, 
©h, that I could do it in such a manner as to fix, at part- 
ing, some convictions upon their hearts ; that, though 
I seem to leave them for a little while, and send them 
back to review again the former chapters, as those in 
which alone they have any present concern, they might 
soon, as it were, overtake me again, and fin*! a suitable- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 9& 

ness in the remaining part of this discourse, which at 
present they cannot possibly find. Unhappy creatures ! 
I quit you, as a physician quits a patient whom he loves, 
and is just about to give over as incurable ; he returns 
again and again, and re examines the several symptoms, 
to observe whether there be not one of them more fa- 
vorable than the rest, which may encourage a renewed 
application. 

2. So would I once more return to you. You do not 
find in yourself any disposition to embrace the gospel, 
to apply yourself to Christ, to give yourself up to the 
service of God, and to make religion the business of 
your life. But, if I cannot prevail upon you to do this, 
let me engage you at least to answer me, or rather to 
answer your own conscience, u Why you will not do 
it ?" Is it owing to any secret disbelief of the great 
principles of religion ? If it be, the case is different 
from what 1 have yet considered, and the cure must be 
different. This is not a place to combat wifih the scru- 
ples of infidelity. Nevertheless, I would desire you se- 
riously to enquire how far these scruples extend. D» 
they affect only some particular doctrines of the gos« 
pel on which my argument hath turned ? or do they 
affect the whole Christian revelation ? or do they reach 
yet farther, and extend themselves to natural religion 
as well as revealed, so that it should be a doubt with 
you whether there be any God, and providence, and 
future state, or not ? As these cases are all different, so 
it will be of great importance to distinguish the one 
from the other, that you may know on what principle to 
build as certain, in the examination of those concerning 
which you are yet in doubt. But whatever these 
doubts are, I would farther ask you, How long have 
they continued, and what method have you taken to 
get them resolved ? Do you imagine that in matters of 
such moment, it will be an allowable case for you to 
trifle on, neglecting' to inquire into the evidence of 
these things, and then plead your not being satisfied in 
that evidence, as an excuse for not acting according to 
them ? Must not the principles of common sense assure 
you, that, if these things be true, (as when you talk of 
doubting about them, you acknowledge it, at least, pos- 



100 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

*ib!j they may,) they are of infinitely greater impor- 
tance than any of the affairs of life, whether of business 
or pleasure, tor the sake of which you neglect them ? 
Why then do you continue indolent and unconcerned, 
from week to week, and from month to month, which 
probably, conscience tells you is the case ? 

3. Do you ask what method you should take to be 
resolved ? It is no hard question. Open your eyes ; 
set yourself to think; Let conscience speak ; and ver- 
ily do I believe that if it be not seared in an uncommon 
degree, you will fiyd shrewd forebodings of the certain- 
ty both of natural and revealed religion, and of the ab- 
solute necessity of repentance, faith, and holiness, to a 
life of future felicity. If you are a person of any learn- 
ing, you cannot but know by what writers, and in what 
treatises, these great truths are defended. And, if you 
are not, you may find in almost every town and neigh- 
borhood, persons capable of informing you in the main 
evidences of Christianity, and of answering such scru- 
ples against it as unlearned minds may nave met with. 
Set yourself then, in the name of God, immediately to 
consider the matter : If you study at all, bend your stu- 
dies close this way ; and trifle not with mathematics, or 
poetry, or history, or law, or physic, (which are all, 
comparatively, light as a feather,) while you neglect 
this. Study the argument as for your life ; for much 
more than life depends on it. See how far you are sat- 
isfied, and why that satisfaction reaches no farther. 
Compare evidences on both sides. And, above all, 
consider the design and tendency of the New Testa- 
ment, to what it would lead you, and all them that cor- 
dially obey it; and theft say whether it be not good. 
And consider how naturally its truth is connected with 
its goodness. Trace the character and sentim- nts of 
its authors, whose living image, (if I may be allowed 
the expression) is still preserved in their writings ; and 
then ask your own heart. Can you think this was a for- 
gery ? an impious, cruel forgery ? for such it must have 
been if it were a forgery at all, a scheme to mock God, 
and to ruin men, even the best of men, such as rever- 
enced conscience, and would abide all extremities for 
what they apprehend to be truth. Put the question to 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 101 

jour own heart, Can I in my conscience believe it to be 
such an imposture? Can I lookup to an omniscient God, 
and say, " O Lord, thou knowestthat it is in reverence 
to thee, and in love to truth and virtue, that I reject 
this book, and the method to happiness here laid 
down ?" 

4. But there are difficulties in the way. — And what 
then ? Have these difficulties never been cleared? Go 
to the living advocates for Christianity, to those of 
whose abilites, candor, and piety, you have the best 
opinion, if your prejudices will give you leave to have 
a good opinion of any such; tell them your difficulties ; 
hear their solutions ; weigh them seriously, as those 
who know they must answer it to God ; and, while 
doubts continue, follow the truth as far as it will lead 
you, and take heed that you do not imprison it in un- 
righteousness. Nothing appears more inconsistent and 
absurd than for a man solemnly to pretend dissatisfac- 
tion in the evidences of the gospel, as a reason why he 
cannot in conscience be a thorough Christian ; when 
yet at the same time he violates the most apparent dic- 
tates of reason and conscience, and lives in vices con- 
demned even by the Heathens. Oh sirs! Christ has 
judged concerning such, and judged most righteously 
and most wisely : They do evil, and therefore they hate 
the light, neither come they to the light, lest their deeds 
should be made manifest, and be reproved, But there is 
a light that will make manifest and reprove their works, 
to which they shall be compelled to come, and the 
painful scrutiny of which they shall be forced to abide. 

5. In the mean time, if you are determined to inquire 
no farther into the matter now, give me leave at least, 
from a sincere concern that you may not heap upon 
your head more aggravated ruin, to intreat you that 
you would be cautious how you expose yourself to yet 
greater danger by what you must yourself own to be 
unnecessary, I mean attempts to pervert others from be- 
lieving the truth of the gospel. Leave them, for God'& 
sake, and for your own, in possession of those hapes d 
which nothing but Christianity can give them, and act 
not as if you were solicitous to add to the guilt of an in- 

12 



102 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

* 
fidel the tenfold damnation, which they who have beea 
the perverters and destroyers of the souls of others 
must expect to meet, if that gospel, which they have so 
adventurously opposed, should prove, as it certainly 
will, a serious, and to them a dreadful truth. 

6. If I cannot prevail here, but the pride of display- 
ing a superiority ol understanding should bear on such 
a reader, even in opposition to his own favorite maxims 
of the innocence of error, and the equality of all reli- 
gions, consistent with social virtue, to do his utmost to 
trample down the gospel with contempt, I would how- 
ever dismiss him with one proposal, which I think the 
importance of the affair may fully justify. If you have 
done with your examination into Christianity, and de- 
termine to live and conduct yourself as if it were assur- 
edly false, sit down then and make a memorandum of 
that determination. Write it down : u On such a day 
of such a year, I deliberately resolved that I would live 
and die rejecting Christianity myself, and doing all I 
could to overthrow it. This day I determined not only 
to renounce all subjection to, and expectation from, 
Jesus of Nazareth, but also to make it a serious part of 
the business of my life to destroy, as far as I possibly 
can, all regard to him in the minds of others, and to ex- 
ert my most vigorous efforts in the way of reasoning, 
or of ridicule, to sink the credit of his religion, and if it 
be possible, to root it out of the world ; in calm, steady 
defiance of that day when his followers say, He shall 
appear in so much majesty and terror, to execute the 
vengeance threatened to his enemies. " Dare you write 
this and sign it? I firmly believe that many a man, who 
would be thought a Deist, and endeavors to increase the 
number, would not : And if you in particular dare not 
do it, whence does that small remainder of caution 
arise ? the cause is plain. There is in your conscience 
some secret apprehension that this rejected, this oppos- 
ed, this derided gospel may, after all, prove true ; and 
if there be such an apprehension, then let conscience do 
its office, and convict you of the impious madness of act- 
ing as if it were most certainly and demonstrably false. 
Let it tell you at large how possible it is that haply you 
may be found fighting against God : That, bold as you 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 103 

arc, in defying the terrors of the Lord, you may post'bly 
fall into his hands, may chance to hear that despised 
sentence, which, when you hear it from the mouth of 
the eternal Judge, you will not be able to despise : I 
will repeal it again in spite of all your scorn^ you may 
hear the King say to you, Depart accursed, into everlast- 
ing fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And now 
go and pervert and burlesque the scripture, go and lam- 
poon the character of its heroes, and ridicule the sub- 
lime discourses of its prophets and its apostles, as some 
have done who have left little behind them but the 
short-lived monuments of their ignorance, their pro- 
faneness, and their malice : Go and spread like them 
the banners of infidelity, and pride thyself in the num- 
ber of credulous creatures listed under them. But 
take heed lest the insulted Galilean direct a secret ar- 
row to thine heart, and stop licentious breath before it 
has finished the next sentence thou wouldst utter against 
him. 

7. I will now turn myself from the Deist or the Scep- 
tic, and direct my address to the nominal Christian ; if 
he may upon any terms be called a Christian, who feels 
not, after all I have pleaded, a disposition to subject 
himself to the government and the grace of that Saviour 
whose name he bears. O sinner, thou art turning away 
from my Lord, in whose cause 1 speak ; but let me 
earnestly entreat thee seriously to consider why thou 
art turning away, and to whom thou wilt go from him, 
whom thou acknowledgest to have the words of eternal 
life. You call yourself a Christian, and yet will not by 
anv means be persuaded to seek salvation in good earn- 
est from and through Jesus Christ, whom you call your 
Master and your Lord. How do you for a moment ex- 
cuse this negligence to your own conscience ? If I had 
urged you on any controverted point, it might have al- 
tered the case. If I had labored hard to make you the 
disciple of any particular party of Christians, your delay 
might have been more reasonable : Nay, perhaps, your 
refusing to acquiesce might have been an act of appre- 
hended duty to our common Master. But is it matter of 
controversy among Christians whether there be a great, 
holy, and righteous God ; and whether such a being, 



104 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

whim we agree to own, should be reverenced and lov- 
ed, or neglected and dishonored? Is it matter of con- 
troversy whether a sinner should deeply and seriously 
repent of his sins, or whether he should go on in them ? 
Is it a disputed point amongst us whether Jesus became 
incarnate, and died upon the cross for the redemption of 
sinners or no ? And if it be not, can it be disputed by 
them who believe him to be the Son of God, and the 
Saviour of men, whether a sinner should seek to him 
or neglect him ? or whether one who professes to be a 
christian should depart from iniquity, orgive himself up 
to the practice of it? Are the precepts of our great 
Master written obscurely in his word, that there should 
be room seriously to question whether he requires a de- 
vout, holy, humble, spiritual, watchful, self denying 
life, or whether he allow the contrary ? Has Christ, af- 
ter all his pretensions of bringing life and immortality 
tQ light, left it more uncertain than he found it, wheth- 
er there be any future state of happiness and misery, 
or for whom these states are respectively intended ? 
Is it matter of controversy whether God will or will not 
bring every work into judgment, with every secret things 
whether it be good, or whether it be evil? or whether at 
the conclusion of that judgment, the wicked shall go away 
into everlasting punishmxnt, and the righteous into life eter- 
nal ? You will not, I am sure, for very shame pretend 
any doubt about those things, and yet call yourself a 
Christian. Why then will you not be persuaded to lay 
them to heart, and to act as duty and interest so evi- 
dently require ? Oh sinner, the cause is too obvious ; 
a cause indeed qu>te unworthy of being called a reason. 
It is because thou art blinded and besotted with thy van- 
ities and lusts. It is because thou hast some perishing 
trifle, which charms thy imagination and thy senses, 
so that it is dearer to thee than God and Christ, than 
thy own soul and its salvation. It is, in a word, because 
thou art still under the influence of that carnal mind, 
which, whatever pious forms it may sometimes admit 
and pretend, is enmity against God, and is not subject to 
the law of God, neither indeed ::an be And therefore 
thou art in the very case of those wretches, concerning 
whom our Lord said, in the days of his flesh, Ye will 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 105 

not come unto me that ye might have life ; and therefore 
e shall die in your sins. 

8. In this case I see not what it can signify to renew 
the expostulations and addresses, which I ha/e made in 
- the former chapters. As our blessed Redeemer says of 
those who rejected his gospel, Ye have both seen and 
hated both me and my Father ; so may I truly say with 
regard to you. I have endeavored to show you, in the 
plainest and clearest words, both Christ and the Father; 
I have urged the obligations you are under to both; 1 
have laid before you your guilt, and your condemnation; 
I have pointed out the only remedy ; I have pointed 
out the Hock on which I have built my own eternal 
hopes, and the way in which alone I expect salvation ; 
I have recommended those things to you, which, if God 
gives me an opportunity, I will with my own dying 
breath, earnestly and affectionately recommend to my 
own children, and to all the dearest friends that I have 
upon earth who may then be near me : Esteeming it 
the highest token of my friendship, the surest proof of 
my love to them : And if, believing the gospel to be 
true, you resolve to reject it, I have nothing farther to 
say, but that you must abide by the consequence. Yet 
as Moses, when he went out from the presence of Pha- 
raoh for the last time, finding his heart yet more har- 
dened by all the judgments and deliverances with which 
he had formerly been exercised, denounced upon him 
God's passing through the land in terror to smite the 
firstborn with death, and warned him of that grexit and 
lamentable cry which the sword of the destroying angel 
should raise throughout his realm ; so will I, sinner, 
now when I am quitting thee, speak to thee yet again, 
whether thou wilt hear, or whether thou wilt forbear ; and 
denounce that much more terrible judgment, which 
the sword of divine vengeance, already whetted and 
drawn, and bathed as it were in heaven, is preparing 
against thee ; which shall end in a much more doleful 
cry, though thou wert greater and more obstinate than 
that haughty monarch. Yes, sinner, that I may, with 
the apostle Paul, when turning to others who are more 
likely to hear me, shake my raiment, and say I am pure 
from thy blood ; I will once more tell you what the end 



108 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

of these things will be. And oh, that I could Speak to 
the purpose ! Oh that I could thunder in thine ear such 
a peal of terror as might awaken thee, and to be too 
loud to be drowned in all the noise of carnal mirth, or 
to be deadened by those dangerous opiates, with which 
thou art contriving tostupify thy conscience ! 

9. Seek what amusements and entertainments thou 
wilt, O sinner, I tell thee, if thou wert equal in dignity 
and puwer and magnificence, to the great monarch of 
Babylon, thy pomp shall 6a brought down to the grave % 
and all the sound of thy viols ; the worm shall be spread 
under thee and the worm shall cover thee. Yes, sinner, 
the end of these things is death ; death in its most terri- 
ble sense to thee, if this continue thy governing tem- 
per. Thou canst not avoid it j and if it be possible for 
any thing that I can say to prevent, thou shait not for- 
get it, Your strength is not the strength of stones^ nor is 
your flesh of brass. You are accessible to diseases as 
well as others ; and if some sudden accident do not pre- 
vent it, we shall soon see how heroically you will be- 
have yourself on a dying bed, and in the near views of 
eternity. You that now despise Christ, and trifle with 
his gospel, we shall see you droop and languish ; shall 
see all your relish for your carnal recreations, and your 
vain companions lost. And if perhaps one and another 
of them bolt in upon you, and is brutish and desperate 
enough to attempt to entertain a dying man with a gay 
story, or a profane jest, we shall see how you will rel- 
ish it. We shall see what comfort you will have in re- 
flecting on what is past, or what hope in looking for- 
ward to what is to come. Perhaps, trembling and as- 
tonished, you will then be enquiring, in a wild kind of 
consternation, what you shall do to be saved; calling for 
the ministers of Ohri^t, whom yon now despise for the 
earnestness with which they would labor to save your 
aoul ; and, it may be, falling into a delirium, or dying 
convulsions before they can come. Or perhaps we 
may see you flattering yourselves, through a long linsr- 
ering illness, that you shall still recover, and putting off 
any serious reflection and conversation, for fear it should 
overset your spirits ; and the cruel kindness of friends 
and phy&icians, as if they were in league with Satan to 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 10T 

make the destruction of jour soul as sure as possible, 
may perhaps abet this fatal deceit. 

10. And if any of these probable cases happen, that is 
in short, unless a miracle of grace snatch you as a brand 
eut of the burning when the flames have as it were al- 
ready taken hold of you, all these gloomy circumstan- 
ces, which pass in the chambers of illness, and the bed 
of death, are but the forerunners of infinitely more 
dreadful things Oh, who can describe them ! who 
can imagine them ; when surviving friends are tender- 
ly mourning over the breathless corpse, and taking a 
fond farewell of it before it is laid to consume away in 
the dark and silent grave, into what hands, O sinner, 
will thy soul be fallen ! what scenes will open upon thy 
separate spirit, even before thy deserted flesh be cold, 
or thy sightless eyes are closed ! it shall then know 
what it is to return to God to be rejected by him, as 
having rejected his gospel and his Son, and despised 
the only treaty of reconciliation ; and that such a one 
so amazingly condescending and gracious. Thou shalt 
know what it is to be disowned byChrist, whom thou hast 
refused to entertain ; and what it is, as the certain and 
immediate consequence of that, to be left in the hands 
of the malignant spirits of hell. There will be no more 
friendship then ; none to comfort, none to alleviate thy 
agony and distress ; but, en the contrary, all around 
thee laboring to aggravate and increase them. Thou 
shalt pass away the intermediate years of the separate 
state in dreadful expectation, and bitter outcries of hor- 
ror and remorse ; and then thou shalt hear the trumpet 
of the arch angel, in whatever cavern of that gloomj 
world thou art lodged. Its sound shall penetrate thy 
prison, where, doleful and horrible as it is, thou shalt 
nevertheless wish that thou mightest still be allowed to 
hide thy guilty head, rather than show it before the 
iace of that awful Judge, before whom heaven and earth 
are flying away. But thou must come forth, and be re- 
united to a body r now formed forever to endure agonies, 
which in this mortal state would have dissolved it in a 
moment. You would not be persuaded to come to 
Christ before; you would stupidly neglect him, in spite 
of reason, in spite of conscience, in spite of all the ten* 



108 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

derest solicitations of the gospel, and the repeated ad* 
monitions of its most faithiul ministers; but now, sinner* 
you shall have an interview with him ; if that may be 
called an interview, in which you will not flare to lift up 
your head to view the face of vour tremendous and in- 
exorable Judge. There, at last, how distant soever 
the time of your life, and the place of your abode, may 
have been, there shall we see how courageously your 
hearts will endure, and how strong your hands will be 9 
zvhen the Lord doth this- There shall 1 see thee, O 
reader, whoever thou art that goest on in the thine im- 
penitency, among thousands and ten thousands of des- 
pairing wretches, trembling and confounded. There 
shall I hear thy cries among the rest, rending the very 
heavens in vain. The judge will rise from the tribu- 
nal with majestic composure, and leave thee to be hur- 
ried down to those everlasting burnings to which his 
righteous vengeance hath doomed thee, because thou 
wouldst not be saved from them. Hell shall shut its 
mouth upon thee for ever, and the sad echo of thy 
groans and outcries shall be lost amidst the hallelujahs 
of heaven to all that find mercy of the Lord in that day. 
11 This will most assuredly be the end of these 
things ; and thou, as a Christian, professest to know 
and to believe it. It moves my heart at least, if it 
moves not thine, I firmly believe that every one, who 
himself obtains salvation and glory, will bear so much 
of his Saviour's image in wisdom and goodness, in zeal 
for God, and a steady regard to the happiness of the 
whole creatipn, that he will behold this sad scene with 
calm approbation, and without any painful commotion 
of mind. But as yet I am flesh and blood ; and there- 
fore my bowels are troubled, and mine eyes often over- 
flow with grief, to think that wretched sinners will have 
no more compassion upon their own souls; to think, that 
in spite of all admonition, they will obstinately run up- 
on final, everlasting destruction. It would signify noth- 
ing to add a prayer here, or a meditation for your use. 
Poor creature ! you will not meditate! you will not 
pray ! Yet, as I have often poured out my heart in 
prayer over a dying friend, when the force of his dis- 
temper has rendered him iacapable of joining with me, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL- 109 

so will I now apply myself to God for you, O unhappy 
creature ! And if you disdain so much as to read what 
my compassion dictates, I hope they who have felt the 
power of the gospel on their souls, as they cannot but 
pity sush as you, will join with me in such cordial, 
though broken, petitions as these : 



A Prayer in behalf of an impenitent Sinner, in the case 
described above. 

ALMIGHTY God ! with thee all things are possible; to 
thee therefore do I humbly apply myself in behalf of 
this dear immortal soul, which thou here seest perish- 
ing in its sins, and hardening itself against that ever- 
lasting gospel, which has been the power of God to the 
salvation of so many thousands and millions. Thou art 
witness, O blessed God, thou art witness to the plain- 
ness and seriousness with which the message has been 
delivered. It is in thy presence that these awful words 
have been written; and in thy presence have they 
been read. Be pleased therefore to record it in the 
book of thy remembrance, that so if this wicked man 
dieth in his iniquity, after the warning has been so plain- 
ly and solemnly given him, his blood may not be re- 
quired at my hand, nor at the hand of that Christian 
friend, whoever he is by whom this book has been put 
into his, with a sincere desire for the salvation of his soul. 
Be witness, O blessed Jesus, in the day in which thou 
shalt judge the secrets of all hearts, that thy gospel hath 
been preached to this hardened wretch, and salvation, 
by thy blood hath been offered him, though be contin- 
ue to despise it. And may thine unworthy messenger 
be unto God a sweet savor in Christ and in this very 
soul, even though it should at last perish 1 But, oh that, 
after all his hardness and impenitence, thou wouldst 
still be pleased, by the sovereign power Jof thine effi- 
cacious grace, to awaken and convert him ! Well do 
we know, oh thou Lord of universal nature, that he 
who made the soul can cause the sword of conviction 
to come near and enter into it. Oh that, in thine infi- 



1 10 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

nite wisdom and lore, thou wouldst find out a way to 
interpose, and save this sinner from death I from eter- 
nal death ! Oh that, if it be thy blessed will, thou 
wouldst immediately do it ! Thou knowest, O God, he 
is a dying creature ; thou knowest that if any thing be 
done for him, it must be done quickly ; thou seest in the 
book of thy wise and gracious decrees, a moment mark- 
ed, which must seal him up in an unchangeable state ; 
oh that thou wouldst lay hold on him, while he is yet 
joined to the living and hath hope ! Thy immutable laws, 
in the dispensation of grace, forbid that a soul should 
be converted and renewed after its entrance on the in- 
visible world : Oh let thy sacred Spirit work, while he 
is yet, as it were within the sphere of his operations ! 
Work, O God, by whatever method thou pleasest, only 
have mercy upon him ! O Lord, have mercy upon him! 
that he sink not into those depths of damnation and ruin, 
on the very brink of which he so evidently appears ! 
Oh that thou wouldst bring him, if that be necessary, 
and seem to thee most expedient, into any depths of 
calamity and distress! Oh that, with Manasseh, he may 
be taken in the thorns, and laden with the fetters of afflic- 
tion, if that may but cause him to seek the God of his fa- 
thers* 

But I prescribe not to thine infinite wisdom. — Thou 
hast displayed thy power in glorious and astonishing 
instances : which I thank thee that I have so circum- 
stantially known, and by the knowledge ef them have 
been fortified against the rash confidence of those who 
"weakly and arrogantly pronounce that to be impossi- 
ble which is actually done. Thou hast, I know, done 
that by a single thought in retirement, when the happy 
man reclaimed by it hath been far from means, and far 
from ordinances ; which neither the most awful admoni- 
tions, nor the most tender entreaties, nor the mcst ter- 
rible afflictions, nor the most wonderful deliverances, 
had been able to effect. 

Glorify thy name, O Lord, and glorify thy grace, in 
the method which to thine infinite wisdom shall seem 
most expedient ! Only grant, I beseech thee, with 
all humble submission to thy will, that this sinner may 
be saved ! Or if not, that the labor of this part may not 



OF RELIGIOiY IN THE SOUL, 111 

be altogether in vain ; but that, if some reject it to 
their aggravated ruin, others may hearken and live 
that those thy servants, who have labored for their de- 
liverance and happiness, may view them in the regions 
of glory, as the spoils with which thou hast honored 
them as the instruments of recovering ; and may join 
with them in the hallelujahs of heaven, to him who hath 
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own bloody 
and hath made us, of condemned rebel, and accursed, 
polluted sinners, kings and priests unto God ; to him be 
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 



CHAP. XII. 

AN ADDRESS TO A SOUL SO OVERWHELMED WITH A SENSE 
OF THE GREATNESS OF ITS SINS, THAT IT DARE NOT AP- 
PLY ITSELF TO CHRIST WITH ANY HOPE OF SALVATION. 

The case described at large, 1 — 4, as it frequently occurs, 5. Granting 
all that the dejected soul charges on itself, 6. The invitations and 
promises of Christ give hope, 7. The reader urged, under all his bur- 
dens and tears, to an humble application to him, 8, which is accord- 
ingly exemplified in the concluding reflection and prayer. 

1. IH.iVEnow done with tho^e unhappy creatures 
who despise the gospel, and with those who neglect it. 
With pleasure do I now turn myself to those who will 
hear me with more regard. Among the various cases 
which now present themselves to my thoughts, and de- 
mand my tender, "affectionate, respectful care, there is 
none more worthy of compassion than that which I 
have mentioned in the title of this chapter ; none which 
requires a more immediate attempt of relief. 

2. It is very possible, some afflicted creature may be 
ready to cry out, it is enough : Aggravate my grief 
and my distress no more. The sentence you have 
been so awfully describing, as what shall be passed and 
executed on the impenitent and unbelieving, is my sen- 
tence ; and the terrors of it are my terrors. For mine 
iniquities are gone up unto the heavens, and my trans- 
gressions have reached unto the clouds. My case is 
quite singular. Surely there never was so great a sin- 



1 12 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ner as I, T have received so many mercies, I have en- 
joyed so many advantages, I have heard so many invi- 
tations of gospej grace ; and yet my heart has been so 
hard and my nature is so exceeding sinful, and the num- 
ber and aggravating circumstances of my provocations 
have been such, (hat I dare not hope. It is enough 
that God hath supported me thus long; it is enough 
that, after so many years of wickedness, I am yet out 
of hell Every day^ reprieve is a mercy at which I 
am astonished. I lie down and wonder, that death and 
damnation have not seized me in my walks the day past 
1 arise and wonder that my bed hath not been my grave; 
wonder, that my soul is not separated from my flesh, 
and surrounded with devils and damned spirits. 

3. I have indeed heard the message of salvation ; 
but, alas, it seems no message of salvation to me.— 
There are happy souls that have hope, and their hope 
is indeed in Christ, and the grace of God manifested in 
him. But then they feel in their hearts an encourage- 
ment to apply to him ; whereas I dare not do it. 
Christ and grace are things in which I fear I have no 
part, and must expect none. There are exceed- 
ing rich and precious promises in the word ©f God ; but 
they are to me as a sealed book and are hid from me l as 
to any personal use. I know Christ is able to save ; 
I know he is willing to save some ; but that he should 
be willing to save me, such a polluted, such a provok- 
ing creature, as God knows, and as conscience knows, I 
have been, and to this day am ; this I knowinot how to 
believe, and the utmost that I can do towards it is to ac- 
knowledge that it is not absolutely impossible, and that 
I do not yet lie down incomplete despair; though alas I 
I seem upon the very borders of it, and expect every 
day and hour to fall into it. 

4. I should not, perhaps, have entered so fully into 
this case if! had not seen many in it; and I will add, 
reader, for your encouragement, if it be your case, sev- 
eral who are now in the number of the most establish- 
ed, cheerful, and useful Christians. — I hope divine 
grace will add to you the rest, if out of these depths you 
be enabled to cry unto God; and though, like Jonah, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 1 13 

you may seem to be cast out from his presence, yet still, 
with Jonah, you look toward his holy temple. 

5. Let it net be imagined that it is in any neglect of 
that blessed Spirit, whose office it is to be the great 
Comforter, that I now attempt to reason you out of this 
disconsolate frame ; for it is as the great source of rea- 
son that he deals with rational creatures, and it is in the 
U3e of rational means and considerations, that he may 
most justly be expected to operate. Give me leave, 
therefore, to address myself calmly to you, and ask you 
what reason you have for all these passionate com- 
plaints and accusations against yourself? what reason 
have you to suggest that your case is singular, when so 
many have told you they have felt the same? what 
reason have you to conclude so hardly against yourself, 
when the gospel speaks in such favorable terms ; or 
what reason to imagine that the gracious things it says 
are not intended for you ? — You know, indeed, more 
of the corruptions of your own heart than you know 
of the hearts of others ; and you make a thousand char- 
itable excuses for their visible failings and infirmities, 
which you make not for your own ; and it may be some 
of those, whom you admire as eminent saints when 
compared with you, are on their part humbling them- 
selves in the dust as unworthy to be numbered among 
the least of God's people, and wishing themselves like 
you, in whom they think they see much more good, 
and much less evil than in themselves. 

6. But to suppose the worst: what if you were re- 
ally the vilest sinner that ever lived upon the face of 
the earth ? what if your iniquities had gone up unto the 
heavens every day, and your transgressions had reached 
unto the clouds, reached thither with such horrid ag- 
gravations that earth and heaven should have had rea- 
son to detest you as a monster of impiety ? Admitting 
all this, is any thing too hard for the Lord? are any sins, 
of which a sinner can repent, of so deep a dye, that the 
blood of Christ cannot «rash them away 9 Nay, though 
it would be daring wickedness and monstrous folly for 
any to sin, that grace might abound, yet had you indeed 
raised your account beyond ail that divine grace had 
ever yet pardoned, who should limit the holy one of Is- 



114 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

rati ? or who should pretend to say that it was impos- 
sible God rright,for your very wretchedness, choose you 
out from others, to make you a monument of mercy, 
and a trophy of hitherto unparalleled grace ? The apos- 
tle P*ul strongly intimates this to have been the case 
with regard to himself; and why might not you like- 
wise, if indeed the chief of sinners obtain mercy, that in 
you, as the chief Jesus Christ might show forth all long 
suffering, for a pattern to them who shall hereof er believe? 
7 Gloomy as your apprehensions are, I would ask 
you plain'y.Do you in your conscience think that Christ 
is not able to save you? What, is he not oble to save, 
even to the uttermost, them that come unto God by hitn ? 
Yes, you will say, abundantly able to do it \ but I dare 
not imagine that he will do it. And how do you know 
that he will not ! He has helped the very greatest sin- 
ners of alt, that have yet applied themselves to him; 
fetid he has made the offers of grace and salvation in the 
most engaging and encouraging terms : If any man 
thirst, lei him come unto me and drink ; Let him that is 
athirst come ; and whosoever will, let him take of the wa- 
ters of life freely. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest : and, once more, 
Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. True 
you will say, none that are given him by the father ; 
could I know I were of that number, I could then apply 
cheerfully to him. But,dear reader, let me intreat you 
to look into the text itself, and see whether that limita- 
tion be expressly added there. Do you there read, 
u None of them whom the Father hath given me shall 
he cast out ?" The words are in a much more encour- 
aging form ; and why should you frustrate his wisdom 
and goodness by such an addition of your own 1 Add not 
to his words, lest he reprove thee; take them as they 
stand, and drink in the consolation of them. Our Lord 
knew into what perplexity some serious minds might 
possibly be thrown by what he had before been saying, 
all lhat the Father hath given me shall come unto me j 
and therefore, as it were on the purpose to balance it, 
he adds these glorious words, Him that cometh unto me I 
will in no wise, by no means* «na, no consideration what- 
ever, cast out. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 115 

8. If, therefore, you are already discouraged and 
terrified at the greatness of your sins, do not add to 
their weight and number -that one greater and worse 
than all the rest, a distrust of the faithfulness and grace 
of the blessed Redeemer. Do not, as far as in you lies, 
oppose all the purposes of his love to you. O distress- 
ed soul, whom dost thou dread? to whom dost thou 
tremble toappioach ? Is there any thing so terrible in 
a crucified Redeemer, in the Lamb that was slain? If 
thou earnest thy soul, almost sinking under the burden 
of its guilt, to lay it down at his feet, what dost thou of- 
fer him but the spoil which he bled and died to recov- 
er and possess ? and did he purchase it so dearly, that 
thou might reject it with disdain ? Go to him directly, 
and fall down in his presence, and plead that misery of 
thine which thou hast now been pleading in a contrary 
view, as an engagement to your own soul to make the 
application, and as an argument with the compassion- 
ate Saviour to receive you : Go, and be assured, that 
where sin hath abounded, there shall grace much more a* 
bound. Be assured, that if one sinner can premise him- 
self a more certain welcome than another, it is not he 
that is least guilty and miserable, but he that is most 
deeply humbled before God, umjer a sense of that mis- 
ery *nd guilt, and lies the iowest in the apprehension 
of it. 



Reflection on these encouragements, ending in an hum* 
ble and earnest Application to Christ for Mercy, 

O MY soul, what sayest thou to these things ? Is 
there not at least a possibility of help from Christ ? 
and is there a possibility of help any other way ? Is 
any other name given under heaven whereby we may be 
saved ? I know there is none. I must then say, like 
the lepers of Israel, If I sit here I perisli, and if I 
make my application in vain, I can but die. But per- 
adventure he may save my soul alive. I will there- 
fore arise, and go unto him ; or rather, believing him 
here by his spiritual presence, sinful and miserable as 



116 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

I am, I will this moment fall down on my face before 
him, and pour out my soul unto him. 

Blessed Jesus, I present myself unto thee as a 
wretched creature, driven indeed by necessity to do 
it. For, surely, were not that necessity urgent and 
absolute, I should not dare for very shame to appear 
in thine holy and majestic presence. I am fully con- 
vinced that my sins and my follies have been inex- 
cusably great, more than I can express, more than I 
can conceive. I feel a source of sin in my corrupt 
and degenerate nature which pours out iniquity as a 
fountain sends out its water, and makes me a burden 
and a terror to my3elf. Such aggravations have at- 
tended my transgressions, that it looks like presump- 
tion so much as to ask pardon of them ; and yet would 
it net be greater presumption to say, that they exceed 
thy mercy, and the efficacy of thy blood ? to say that 
thou hast power and grace enough to pardon and save 
only sinners of a lower order, while such as 1 lie out 
of thy reach ? Preserve me from that blasphemous 
imagination ! preserve me from that unreasonable sus- 
picion ! Lord, thou canst do all things, neither is there 
any thought of min&fteart withholden from thee. Thou 
art indeed, as thy woec! declares, able to save unto the 
utmost ; and therefore, breaking through all the oppo- 
sitions of shame and fear that would keep me from 
thee, i come and lie down as in the dust before thee. 
Thou knowest, O Lord, all my sins, and all my follies. 
I cannot, and, I hope I may say, I would not disguise 
them before thee, or set myself to find out plausible 
excuses. Accuse me Lord, as thou pleasest ; and 1 
will ingenuously plead to all thine accusations. I will 
own myself as great a sinner as thou callest me ; 
but I am still a sinner that comes unto thee for pardon. 
If I must die, it shall be submitting and owning the 
justire of the fatal stroke. If I perish, it shall be lay- 
ing hold, as it were, on the horns *of the altar; laying 
myself down at thy footstool, though 1 have been such 
a rebel against th}' throne. Many have received a 
full pardon there, have met with favor beyond their 
hopes. — And are all thy compassions, O blessed Je- 
sus, exhausted ? and wilt thou now begin to reject an 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 1 17 

humble creature who flies to thee for life, and pleads 
nothing" but mercy and free grace? Have mercy upon 
me^ O most gracious Redeemer, have mercy upon me, 
and let my life be precious in thy sight I Oh, do not re- 
solve to send me down to that state of final misery and 
despair, from which it was thy gracious purpose to de- 
liver and save so many ! 

Spurn me not away, O Lord, from thy presence, 
hot be offended when I presume to lay hold on thy 
royal robe, and say that I cannot and will not let th°,t 
go till my suit is granted! Oi^ remember that my e- 
ternity is at stake ! Remember, O Lord, that all my 
hopes of obtaining eternal happiness, and avoiding ev- 
erlasting, helpless, hopeless destruction, are anchored 
upon thee ; they hang upon thy smiles, or drop at thy 
frown. Oh have mercy upon me, for the sake of this 
immortal soul of mine ! or, if not for the sake ot mine 
alone, for the sake of many others, who may, on the 
one hand, be encouraged by thy mercy to me, or on 
the other, may be greatly wounded and discouraged 
by my helpless despair ! I beseech th«e, O Lord, for 
thine own sake, and for the display of thy Father's 
rich and sovereign grace ; I beseech thee by the 
blood thou didst shed on the cross; I beseech thee by 
the covenant of grace and peace, into which the Fa- 
ther did enter with thee for the salvation of believing 
and repenting sinners, save me ! Save me, O Lord, 
who earnestly desires to repent and believe! I am in- 
deed a sinner, in whose final and everlasting destruc- 
tion thy justice might be greatly glorified ; but, oh, if 
thou wilt pardon me, it will be a monument raised to 
the honor of thy grace, and the efficacy of thy blood, 
in proportion to the degree, in which the wretch, to 
whom thy mercy is extended, was mean and misera- 
ble without it— Speak, Lord, by thy blessed Spirit, 
and banish my fears ! Look unto me with love in thy 
countenance, and say to me, as in the days of thy flesh 
thou didst to many an humble supplicant. Thy sins ar$ 
forgiven thee, go in peace. 



118 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XIII. 

THE DOUBTING SOUL MORE PARTICULARLY ASSISTED IN 
ITS INQUIRIES AS TO THE SINCERITY OF ITS FAITH AND 
REPENTANCE. 

Transient impressions liable to be mistaken for conversion, which 
would be a fatal error, 1. General scheme for self-examination, 2. 
Particular inquiries ; (1.) What views there have been of sin ? 3, (2.) 
What views there have been of Christ ? 4, as to the need the soul has 
of him, 5, and its willingness to receive him with a due surrender of 
heart to his # service, 6. Nothing short of this sufficient, 7. The soul 
submitting to divine examination, the sincerity of its faith and repeo? 
tance. 

1. IN consequence of all the serious things which 
have been said in the former chapters, 1 hope it will 
he no false presumption to imagine that some religious 
impressions may be made on hearts which had never 
felt them before ; or may be revived where they have 
formerly grown coidand languid. Yet I am very sen- 
sible, and 1 desire that you may be so, how great dan- 
ger there is of self flattery ©n this important head ; 
and how necessary it is to caution men against too 
hasty a conclusion that they are really converted, be- 
cause they have felt some warm emotion on their 
minds, and have reformed ti^e grc3S irregularities of 
their former conduct A mistake here might be infi- 
nitely more fatal ; it may prove the ©ccasion of that 
false peace, which shall lead a man to bless himself 
in his own heart, and to conclude himself secure, while 
all the threatenings and curses of God's law are sound- 
ing in his errs, and he indeed directly against him ; 
while, in the mean time, he applies to himself a thous- 
and promises, in which he has no share ; which may 
prove, therefore, like generous wine to a man in an 
high fever, or strong opiates to one in a lethargy. 
The ston> ground received the word with joy, and a 
promising harvest" seemed to be springing up ; yet it 
soon withered away, and no reaper filled bis arms with 
it. Now, that this may not be the case with you, that 
all my labors and yours hitherto may not be lost, and 
that a vain dream of security and happiness may not 
plunge you deeper in misery and ruin, give me leave 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 119 

to lead you into a serious inquiry into your own heart ; 
that so you may be better able to judge of your case, 
and to distinguish between what is at most being only 
near the kingdom of heaven, and becoming indeed a 
member of it. 

2. Now this dspends upon the sincerity of your faith 
in Christ, when faith is taken in its largest extent, as 
explained above ; that is as comprehending- repen- 
tance, and that steady purpose of new and universal o- 
bedienc^ of which, wherever it is real, faith will as- 
suredly be the vital principle. Therefore, to assist you 
in judging of your state, give me leave to ask you, 
or rather to intreat you to ask yourself, What views 
you have had and now have of sin and of Christ ? 
and what your future purposes are with regard to your 
conduct in the remainder of life that may lie before 
you ? I shall not reason largely upon the several par- 
ticulars I suggest under these heads, but rather refer 
you to your own reading and observation, to judge 
how agreeable they are to the word of God, the great 
rule by which our characters must quickly be tried, 
and our eternal sUte unalterably determined. 

3. Inquire seriously, in the first place, what views 
you have had of sin, and what sentiments you have 
felt in your soul with regard to it. There was a time 
when it wore a flattering aspect, and made a fair, en- 
chanting appearance, so that all your heart was charm- 
ed with it, and it was the very business of your life to 
practice it But you have since been undeceived : 
You have felt it bite like a serpent, and sting like an 
adder ; you have beheld it with an abhorrence far 
greater than the delight which it ever gave you. So 
far it is well. It is thus with every true penitent, and 
with some I fear who a-r&not of that number. Let 
me, therefore, inquire farthCT, whence arose this ab- 
horrence? Was it merely from a principle of self love ? 
was it merely because you had been wounded by it? 
was it merely because you had thereby brought con- 
demnation and ruin upon your own soul ? Was 
there no sense of its deformity, of its baseness, of its 
malignity, as committed against the blessed God, con- 
sidered as a glorious, a bountiful, and a merciful Be- 



no THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ing ? Were you never pierced by an apprehension of 
its vile ingiahtude ? And as for those purposes which 
have arisen in your heart against it,iet me beseech you 
to reflect how they have been formed, and how they 
have hitherto been executed. Have they been uni- 
versal ? have they been resoiute ? and yet, amidst all 
that resolution, have they been humble ? When you 
declared war with sin, was it with every sin ? and is 
it an irrecorcileable war which you determine by di- 
vine grace to push on, till you have entirely conquered 
it, or die in the attempt 2 And are you accordingly 
active in your endeavors to subdue and destroy it? If so, 
what are the fruits worthy of repentance you bring forth? 
It does not, I hope, all flow away in floods of grief: 
Have you ceased to do evil Pave you learning to do well? 
Doth your reformation show that you repent of your 
sins ; or do your renewed relapses into sin prove that 
you repent even of what you call your repentance? 
Have you an inward abhorrence of all sin, and an un- 
feigned zeal against it ? And doth that produce a care 
to guard against the occasion of it and temptations to 
it ? Do you watch against the circumstances that have 
ensnared you ? and do you particularly double your 
guard against that sin which does most easily beset you ? 
Is that laid aside, that the christian race may be run ; 
laid aside wtih a firm determination that you will return 
to it no more, that you will hold no more parley with it, 
that you wih never take another step towards it? 

4. Permit me also farther to inquire,whatyeur views 
of Christ have been? what you think of him, and of 
your concern with him? Have you been fully con- 
vinced that there must be a correspondence settled be- 
tween him and your soul ; and do you see and feel, that 
you are not only to pay him a kind of distant homage, 
and transient compliment, tts a very wise, benevolent, 
and excellent person, whose name and memory you 
have a reverence for ; but, that, as he lives and reigns, 
as he is ever near you, and always observing you, so 
you must look to him, must approach him, must humbly 
transact business with him, and that business of the 
highest importance, on which your salvation depends 9 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 121 

5. You have been brought to inquire, Wherewith 
shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the 
most high, God? And once, perhaps, you were think- 
ing of sacrifices, which your own stores might have 
been sufficient to furnish out. Are you now convinced 
they will not suffice ; and that you must have recourse 
to the Lamb which God hath provided ? Have you had 
a view of Jesus, as taking away the sins of the world ; as 
made a sia offering for us, thougfi he knew no sin, that we 
might be made the righteousness of God in h im ? Have 
you viewed him perfectly righteous in himself; a r ;d, 
despairing of being justified by any righteousness of 
your own, have you submitted to the righteousness of 
God? Has your heart ever been brought to a deep 
conviction of this important truth, that if ever you 
are saved at all, it must be through Christ ; that if ever 
God extend mercy to you at all, it must be for his sake ; 
that if aver you are fixed in the tempJe of God above> 
you must stand there as an everlasting trophy of that 
victory which Christ has gained over the powers ?f 
hell, who would otherwise have triumphed over you? 

6. Our Lord says, Look unto me and be ye saved ! he 
says, If I be lifed up, I shad draw all men unto me. Have 
you looked to him as the only Saviour? have you been 
drawn unto him by that sacred magnet, the attractive 
influence of his dying love ? Do you know what it is to 
come to Christ as a poor, weary, and heavy laden sinner* 
that you may find rest ? Do you know what it is in a 
spiritual sense to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the 
Son of man ; that is, to look upon Christ crucified as 
the great support of your soul, and to feel a desire after 
him, earnest as the appetite of nature after its necessa- 
ry food ? Have you known what it is cordially to sur- 
render yourself to Christ, as a poor creature whom 
love has made his property? Have you committed 
your immortal soul to him, that he may purify and 
save it ; that he may govern it by the dictates of his 
word, and the influence of his Spirit ; that he may use 
it for his glory ; that he may appoint it to what exer- 
cise and discipline he pleases while it dwells here in 
flesh ? and that he may receive it at death, and fix it 

L 



122 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

among those spirits, who with perpetual songs of 
praise surround his throne, and are his servants forey- 
er ? Have you heartily consented to this ? and do you, 
on this account of the matter, renew your consent? 
do you renew it deliberately and determinately, and 
feel your whole soul, as it were, saying, Jmen, while 
you read this ! If this be the case, then I can with 
great pleasure give you (as it were) the right hand of 
fellowship, and salute and embrace you as a sincere dis- 
ciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, as one who is delivered 
from the fiower of darkness, and is translated into the 
kingdom oj the Son of God. I can then salute you, in 
tSe Lord, as one to whom, as a minister of Jesus, I am 
commissioned and charged to speak comfortably, and 
to tell you, not that I absolve you from your sins, for it 
is a small matter to be judged of man's judgment, but 
that the blessed God himself absolveth you ; that yon 
are one to whom he hath said in his gospel, and is con- 
tinually saying, Your sins are forgiven you ; therefore 
go in peace, and take the comfort of it. 

7. But if you are a stranger to these experiences, 
and to this temper which 1 have now described, the 
great work is yet undone ; you are an impenitent and 
unbelieving sinner, and the wrath of God abideth on you. 
However you may have been awakened and alarmed, 
whatever resolutions you may have formed for amend- 
ing your life, how right soever your notions may be, 
kow pure soever your forms of worship, how ardent 
soever your zeal, how severe soever your mortifica- 
tion, how humane soever your temper, how inoffensive 
soever your life may be, 1 can speak no comfort to you. 
Vain are all your religious hopes, if there has not been 
a cordial humiliation befoie the presence of God for all 
your sins : if there has not been this avowed war de- 
clared against every thing displeasing to God ; if there 
has not been this sense of your neer* of Christ, and of 
your ruin without him ; if there has not been this earn- 
est application to him, this surrender of your soul into 
his hands by faith ; this renunciation of yourself, that 
you might fix on him the anchor of your hope ; if there 
has not been this unreserved dedication of yourself to 
fee at all times, and in all respects, the faithful servant 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 123 

of God through him ; and if you do not with all this ac- 
knowledge, that you are an unprofitable servant, who 
have no other expectation of acceptance or of pardon, 
but only through his righteousness and blood, and 
through the riches of divine grace in him ; I repeat it 
again, that all your hopes are vain, aud you are build- 
ing on the sand. The house you have already raised 
must be thrown down to the ground, and the founda- 
tion be removed and laid anew, or you and all 
your hopes will shortly be swept away with, and buried 
under it in everlasting ruin. * 



The Soul submitting to divine examination, the Sincerity 
of its Repentance and Faith. 

O Lord God, thou searchest all hearts, and triest the 
reins of the children of men. Sear time, O Lord, and 
know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ; and set 
if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way 
everlasting. Doth not my conscience, O Lord, testify 
in thy presence, that my repentance and faith are such 
as have been described, or at leajt, that it is my earn- 
est prayer that they may be so ? Come, therefore, O 
thou blessed Spirit, who art the author of all grace and 
consolation, and work this temper more fully in my 
soul ! Oh represent sin to mine eyes in all its most odi* 
ous colors, that I may feel a mortal and irreconcilable 
hatred to it ! Oh represent the majesty and mercy of 
the blessed God in such a manner, that my heart may 
he alarmed and that it may be melted ! Smite the r&ck 
that the w iters may flow : Waters of genuine, undissem- 
bled, and filial repentance ! Convince me, O thou bless- 
ed Spirit, of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment I 
Show me that I have undone myself ; but that my help is 
found in God alone, in God through Christ, in whom 
alone he will extend compassion and help me ! Accord- 
ing to thy peculiar office, take of Christ and shew it un- 
to me I Show me his power to save I Show me his wil- 
lingness to exert that power ! Teach my faith to be* 



124 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

hold him, as extended on the cross with open arms and 
with a pierced, bleeding side ; and so telling me, in the 
most forcible language, what room there is in his very 
heart for me ! May 1 know what it is to have my whole 
heart subdued by love ; so subdued, as to be crucified 
with him ; to be dead to sin, and dead to the world, but 
alive unto God through Jesus Christ! In his power and 
love may I confide ! To him may I, without any reserve, 
commit my spirit ! His image may I bear; his laws 
may I observe ; his service may I pursue ; and may I 
remain through time and eternity, a monument of the 
efficac}' of his gospel, and a trophy of his victorious 
grace ! 

Oh blessed God ! if there be any thing wanting to- 
wards constituting me a sincere christian, discover it to 
me and work it in me ! Beat down, I beseech thee, ev- 
ery false and presumptuous hope, how costly soever 
that building may have been which is thus laid in ruins, 
and how proud soever I may have been of its vain or- 
naments! Let me know the worst of my case, be that 
knowledge ever so distressful ; and if there be remain- 
ing danger, oh let my heart be fully sensible of it, sea- 
siole while yet there is remedy ! 

If there be any secret sin yet lurking in my soul, 
which I have not sincerely renounced, discover it to 
me, and rend it out of my heart, though it should have 
shot its roots ever so deep, aud should have wrapped 
thorn all around it, so that every nerve should be pain- 
ed by the separation ! Tear it away, O Lord, by a hand 
graciously severe ! and by degrees, yea Lord, by spee- 
dy advances, go on, 1 beseech thee, to perfect what is 
still lacking in my faith ! Accomplish i# me all the good 
pleasure of thy goodness : Enrich me, O heavenly Fa- 
ther, with all the graces of thy Spirit ; form me to the 
complete image of thy dear Son: And then, lor hissake, 
come unto me, and manifest thy gracious presence in 
my soul; till it is ripened for that state of glory, for 
which all these operations are intended to prepare it 1 
Amen, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. ltt 



CHAP. XIV. 

A MORE PARTICULAR VIEW OF THE SEVERAL BRANCHES 
OF THE CHRISTIAN TEMPER ; BY WHICH THE READER 
MAY BE FARTHER ASSISTED IN JUDGING WHAT HE IS 
AND WHAT HE SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO BE. 

The importance of the case engages to a more particular survey, what 
manner of spirit we are oi\ 1 T 2. Accordingly the Christian temper 
is described, (1.) By some general views of it ; as a new and divine 
temper, 3. as resembling that of Christ, 4, and as engaging us to be 
spiritually minded, and to walk by faith, 5. A plan of the remainder, 
6, in which the Christian temper is more particularly considered, 
(2.) With regard to the blessed God ; as including fear, affection, 
and obedience, 7, faith and love to Christ, 8, 9, joy in him, 10, and a 
proper temper towards the Holy Spirit, particularly as a spirit of 
adoption and of courage, 11 — 13. [3.] With regard to ourselves; 
as including preference of the soul to the body, humility, purity, 14, 
temperance, 15, contentment, 16, and patience 17. [4.] With re- 
gard to our fellow-creatures: as including love, 18, meekness, 19, 
peaceableness, 20, mercy, 21, truth, 22, and candor in judging, 23. 
[5.] General qualifications of each branch, 24, such as sincerity, 25, 
constancy, 26, tenderness, 27, zeal, 28, and prudence, 29. These 
things should frequently be recollected, 30. A review of all in a spir- 
itual prayer. 

1. WHEN I consider the infinite importance of 
eternity, I find it exceedingly difficult to satisfy myself in 
any thing" which I can say to men, where their eternal 
interests are concerned. I have given you a view, I 
hope I may truly say, a just as well as faithful view^ 
of a truly christian temper already. Yet, for your far- 
ther assistance, I would offer it to your consideration 
in various points of light, that you may be agisted in 
judging of what you are, and of what you ought to be. 
And in this I aim, not only at your conviction, it you 
are yet a stranger to real religion, but at your farther 
edification, if by the grace of God you are by this time 
experimentally acquainted with it. Happy will you 
fee, happy beyond expression, if, as you go on from one 
article to another, you can say, "This is my temper 
and character.' 5 Happy in no inconsiderable degree, if 
you can say, "This is what I desire, what I pray for, 
and what I pursue, in preference to every opposite 
view, though it be not what I have as yet attained." 

2. Search then, and try, what manner of spirit you 

L2 



126 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

are of And may he that searcheth all hearts direct the 
inquiry; and enable yon so to judge yourself that you 
may not be condemned of the Lord ! 

3. Know in the general, that if yon are a christian 
indeed, you have bt'n renewed in the spirit of your 
minds; so renewed as to be regenerate, and born again. 
It is not enough to have assamed a new name, to have 
been brought under some new restraints, or to have 
made a partial change in some particulars of your eon- 
duct. The change must be great and universal. In- 
quire, then, whether you have entertained new appre- 
hensions of things, have formed a practical judgment 
different from what you formerly did ; whether the 
ends you purpose, the affections, which you feel work- 
ing in your heart, and the course of action to which, 
by those affections, you are directed, be on the whole 
new or old? Again, if you are a christian indeed, you are 
partaker of a divine nature, divine in its original, its ten- 
dency, and its resemblance. Inquire, therefore, whether 
God hath implanted a principle in your heart which 
tends to him, and which makes you like him. Search 
your soul attentively, to see if you have really the im- 
age there of God^s moral perfections, of his holiness 
and righteousness, his goodness and fidelity ; for the 
new man is after God created in righteousness and true 
holiness, and is renewed in knowledge after the image of 
him that created him. 

4. For your farther assistance, inquire whether the 
same mind be in you which was also in Christ, whether 
you bear the image of God's incarnate Son, the bright- 
est and the fairest resemblance of the Father, which 
earth or heaven has ever beheld? The blessed Jesus 
designed himself to be a model for all his followers; 
and he is certainly a model most fit for our imitation ; 
an example in our natu&e, and in circumstances adapt- 
ed to general use ; an example recommended to u3 at 
©nee by its spotless perfection, and by the endearing 
relation in which he stands to us, as our Master,our 
friend, and our head ; as the person by whom our ev- 
erlasting state is to be fixed, and in a resemblance to 
whom our final happiness is to consist, if ever we are 
happy at all. Look then into the life and temper ef 



OF RELIGION- IN THE SOUL. 12? 

Christ, as described and illustrated in the gospel, and 
search whether you can find any thing like it in your 
own life. Have you any thing of his devotion, love 
and resignation to God ? Any thing of his humility, 
meekness, and benevolence to men f Any thing of 
his purity, and wisdom, his contempt of the world, his 
patience, his fortitude, his zeal ? 4nd indeed, all the 
other branches of the christian temper, which do not 
imply previous guilt in the person by whom they are 
exorcised, may be called in to illustrate and assist your 
inquiries under this head. 

5. Let me add, if you are a chrntian, you are in the 
main spiritually minded as knowing that is life and 
peace ; whereas to be carnally minded* is death. Though 
you live in the flesh, you will not war after it ; you will 
not take your orders and your commands from it. You 
will indeed attend to its necessary interests, as matters 
of duty, but it will still be with regard to another and 
a nobler interest, that of the rational, immortal spirit. 
Your thoughts, your affections, your pursuits, your 
choice will be determined by a regard to things spirit- 
ual rather than carnal. In a word, you will walk by 
faith and not by sight* Future, invisible, and, in some 

degree, incomprehensible objects will take up your 
mind. — Your faith will act on the being of God, his 
perfections, his providence, his threatenings and his 
promises. It will act upon Christ, whom having not 
seen, you will h)e and honor It will act on that un- 
seen world, which it knows to be eternal, and there- 
fore infinitely more worthy of your affectionate regard, 
than any of those things which are seen, and are temporal. 

6. These are general views of the christian temper, 
on which 1 would intreat you to examine yourself. 
And now 1 would go on to lead you into a survey of the 
grand branches of it, as relating to God, our neighbor, 
and ourselves; and of< thase qualifications which must 
attend each of these branches ; such as sincerity, con- 
stancy, tenderness, zeal and prudence. And I beg 
your diligent attention, while I lay before you a few- 
hints, with regard to each, by which you may judge 
the better both of your state and your duty. 

7. Examine, then,I entreat you, "the temper of your 



128 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

heart with regard to the blessed God." Do you find 
there a reverential fear, and a supreme love and ven- 
eration for his incomparable excellencies, a desire af- 
ter him as the highest good, and a cordial gratitude 
towards him as your supreme benefactor ? Can you 
credit his testimony ? Do you desire to pay an unre- 
served obedience to all that he commands, and an hum- 
ble submission to all the disposals of his providence ? 
Do you design his glory as your noblest end, and make 
it the great business of your life to approve yourself to 
him? Is it your governing care to imitate him, and to 
serve him in spirit and truth ? 

8 Faith \n Christ I have already described at large ; 
and therefore shall say nothing farther, either of that 
persuasion of his power and grace, which is the great 
foundation of it; or of that acceptance of Christ under 
all his characters, or that surrender of the soul into his 
hands, in which its peculiar and distinguishing nature 
consists. 

9. If this faith in Christ be sincere, u it will undoubt- 
edly produce a love to him ;" which will express itself 
in affectionate thoughts of him ; in strict fidelity to 
him ; in a careful observation of his charge ; in a re- 
gard to his Spirit, to his friends and to bis interests ; in 
areverence to the memorials of his dying love which 
he has instituted ; and in an ardent desire after that 
heavenly world where he dwells, and where he will at 
length have all his people to dwell with him 

10. I may add, agreeably to the word of God, that 
thus believing in Christ, and loving him, you will "also 
rejoice in him f in his glorious design, and in bis com- 
plete fitness to accomplish it ; in the promises of his 
word, and in the privileges of his people " It will be 
matter of joy to you that such a Redeemer has appeared 
in this world of ours ; and your joy for yourselves will 
be proportionable to the degree of clearness with which 
you discern your interest in him- and relation to him. 

1 1. Let me farther lead you into some reflections on 
the temper of your heart towards the blessed Spirit. 
If we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of his. 
If we are not led by the Spirit of God, we are not the 
children of God. You will, then, if you are a real chris- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 139 

tian, desire that you may be filled with the Spirit ; that 
you may have every power of your soul subject to his 
authority; that his agency on your heart may be more 
constant, more operative and more delightful. And to 
cherish these sacred influences, you will often have 
recourse to serious consideration and meditation ; you 
will abstain from those sins which tend to grieve him; 
you will improve the tender seasons in which he seems 
to breathe upon your soul ; you will strive earnestly 
with God in prayer, that you may have him shed on 
^Tjou still more abundantly through Jesus Christ ; and you 
will be desirous to fall in with the great end of his mis- 
sion, which was to glorify Chrut, and to establish his 
kingdom. You will desire his influences as the Spirit 
of adoption, to render your acts of worship free and 
affectionate; your sorrow for sin overflowing and ten- 
der ; your resignation meek, and your love ardent; in 
a word, to carry you through life and death with the 
temper of a child who delights in his father, and who 
longs for his more immediate presence. 

12. Once more. If you are a christian indeed, you 
will be desirous to obtain the spirit of courage. A- 
midst all that humility of soul to which you will be 
formed, you will wish to commence a hero in the 
cause of Christ, opposing with a vigorous resolution, 
the strongest efforts of the power of darkness, the in- 
ward corruption of your own heart, and all the outward 
difficulties you may meet with in the way of your duty, 
whiie in the cause and in the strength of Christ you go 
©n conquering and to conquer* 

13 All these things may be considered as branches 
of godliness, of that godliness which is profitable for all 
things, and hath the promise of the life which now island 
of that which is to come. 

14. Let me now further lay before you some branch- 
es of the christian temper, which relate more immedi- 
ately to ourselves. And here, if you are a christian in- 
deed, you will undoubtedly " prefer the soul to the 
body, and things eternal to those things that are tem- 
poral." Conscious of the dignity and value of your 
immortal part, you will come to a firm resolution to se- 
cure its happiness, whatever is to be resignedj or what- 



130 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ever is to be endured in that view. If you are a real 
christian, you will be also clothed with humility- You 
will have a deep sense of your own imperfections, both 
natural and moral ; of the short extent of your knowl- 
edge ; of the uncertainly and weakness of your resolu- 
tions, pnd of your continual dependance upon God, and 
upon almost every thing about you. And especially, 
you will be deeply sensible of your guilt; the remem- 
brance of which will fill you with shame and confusion, 
even when you have some reason to hope it is forgiv- 
en. This will forbid all haughtiness and insolence in 
yonr bphaviour to your fellow-creatures. It will teach 
you, under afflictive providence?, with all holy submis- 
sion, to bear the indignation of the Lord, as those that 
know they have sinned against him. — Again, if you are a 
christian indeed, you will labor after u purity of soul," 
and maintain a fixed abhorrence of all prohibited sen- 
sual indulgence. A recollection of past impurities will 
fill you with shame and grief; and you will endeavor 
for the future to guard your thoughts and desires, as 
well as your word* and actions, and to abstain not only 
from the commission of evil, but from the distant ap- 
pearance and probable occasions of it ; as conscious of 
the perfect holiness of that God with whom you con- 
verse, and of the purifying nature of that hope, which, 
hy hrs gospel, he hath taught you to entertain. 

15. With this is nearly allied that * 4 amiable virtue of 
temperance," which will teach you to guard against 
such a use of meats and drinks as indispos es the body 
for the use of the soul ; or such an indulgence in either, 
as will rob you of that precious jewel, your time, or 
occasion an expense beyond what your circumstances 
will admit, and beyond what will consist with those lib- 
eralities to the poor, which your relation and their* to 
God and each other will require. In short, you will 
guard against whatever has a tendency to increase a 
sensual disposition ; against whatever would alienate 
the soul from communion with God, and would diminish 
its zeal and activity in his service. 

16. The divine philosophy of the blessed Jesus will 
also teach you "a contented temper.'* It will moder- 
ate your desires ©f those worldly enjoyments, after 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 131 

which many feel such an insatiable thirst, ever grow- 
ing with indulgence and success. You will guard a- 
gaist an immoderate care about those things which 
would lead you into a forgetfulness of your heavenly in- 
heritance. If Providenre disappoint your underta- 
kings, you will submit If others be more prosperous, 
you will not envy them ; but rather will be thankful for 
what God is pleased to bestow upon them, as well as for 
what he gives you. No unlawful methods will be used 
to alter your present condition ; and whatever it is, 
you will endeavor to make the best of it ; remembering 
it is what infinite Wisdom and Goodness have ap* 
pointed you, and that it is beyond all comparison better 
than vou have deserved; yea, that the very deficien- 
cies and inconveniences of it may conduce to the im- 
provement of your future and complete happiness. 

With cotitenlment, if you are a disciple of Christ, 
you will join patience too, and in patience will possess y^ur 
soul. You cannot indeed be quite insensible either of 
afflictions or of injuries ; but your mind will be calm and 
composed under them, and steady in the prosecution of 
proper duty, though afflictions press, and though your 
hopes, your dearest hopes and prospects, be delayed. 
Patience will prevent hasty and rash conclusions, and 
fortify you against seeking irregular methods of re- 
lief; disposing you in the mean time, till God sbali be 
pleased to appear for you, to go on steadily in the way 
of your duty ; committing yourself to him in well doing. 
You will also be careful, mat patience may have its perfect 
worA;,prevail in proportion to those circumstances which 
demand its peculiar exercise. For instance, when the 
succession of evils are long and various, so that deep 
calls to deep, and all God's waves and billows seem 
to be going over you one after another ; when God 
touches you in the most tender part; when the reasons 
of his conduct to you are quite unaccountable ; when 
your natural spirits are weak and decayed ; when un- 
lawful methods of redress seem near and easy; still 
your reverence for the will of your heavenly Father 
will carry it against all, and keep you waiting quietly 
for deliverance in his own time and way, 

18. I have thus led you into a brief review of the 



132 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

christian temper, with respect to God and ourselves ; 
permit me now to add, That the gospel will teach you 
an other set of very important lessons with respect to 
your fellow creatures. They are all summed up in 
this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; and whatso- 
ever thou wouldst (that is, whatsoever thou couldest in 
an exchange of circumstances fairly and reasonably 
desire) that others should do unto thee, do th.u likewise 
unto them The religion of the blessed Jesus, when it 
triumphs in your soul, will conquer the predominancy 
of an irtegular self love, and wili teach you candidly 
and tenderly to look upon your neighbor as another 
self As you are sensible of your own rights, you will 
be sensible of bis; as you support your own charac- 
ter, you wiJ support his. You wili desire his welfare, 
and be ready to relieve his necessity, as you would 
have your own consulted by another. You will put 
the kindest construction upon his most dubious words 
and actions ; you will take plea*ure<in his happiness ; 
you will feel his distress, in some measure as your own. 
And most happy will you be, when tbis obvious rule is 
familiar to your mind, when this golden law is written 
upon your heart ; and when it is habitually and impar* 
tially consulted by you upon every occasion, whether 
great 01 small. 

19 The gospel will also teach you, to put on meek- 
ness^ But only with respect to God, submitting to the 
authority of his word, and the disposal of his provi- 
dence, as was urged before, but also with regard to 
your brethren ot mankind lis gentle instructions will 
form you to calmness of temper under injuries auu pro- 
vocations, so that you may not be angry without or be- 
yond just cause, h will engage )ou to guard your 
words, lest you provoke and exasperate those you 
should rather study by love to gain, and by tenderness 
to heal. Meekness will render you slow in using any 
rough and violent methods, if they can by any means be 
lawfully avoided ; and readv to admit.an ■■' even to pro- 
pose, a reconciliation, after they have been entered in- 
to, if there yet may be hope of succeeding. So far as 
this branch of the christian temper prevails in your 
heart, you will take care to avoid every thing which 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 133 

might give unnecessary offence to others ; you will be- 
have yourself in a modest manner, according to your 
station ; and it will work both with regard to superiors 
and inferiors ; teaching you duly to honor the one and 
not to overbear or oppress the other. And in religion 
itself, it will restrain all in moderate sallies and harsh 
censures ; arid will command down that wrath of man, 
which, instead uf working, so often opposes the right- 
eousness of God, and shames and wounds that good 
cause in which it is boisterously and furiously engaged. 
30. With this is naturally connected " a peaceful 
disposition." Ifyouarea christian indeed, you will 
have such a value and esteem for peace, as to endeav- 
or to obtain and preserve it as much as lieth in you, as 
much as you fairly and honorably can. This will have 
such an influence upon your conduct, a3 to make you 
not only cautious of giving offence, and slow in taking 
it, but earnestly desirous to regain peace as soon as may 
be, when it is in any measure broken ; that the wound 
may be healed while it is green, and before it begins 
to rankle and fester. And more especially this dispo- 
sition will engage you to keep the unity of the Spirit in 
the bond of peace, with a»l that in every place call on the 
name of the LordJzsus Christ ; whom, if you truly love, 
you will also love all those whom you have reason to 
believe to be his disciples and servants. 

21. If you be yourselves indeed of that number, you 
will also put on bowels of mercy, The mercies of God, 
and those of the blessed Redeemer, will work on your 
heart, to mould it to sentiments of compassion and gen- 
erosity so that you will feel the wants and sorrows of 
others ; you will desire to relieve their necessities, 
and, as you have opportunity, you will do good both to 
their bodies and their souls ; expressing your kind af- 
fections by suitable actions, which may both evidence 
their sincerity, and render them effectual. 

22. As a christian, -you will also maintain truth invi- 
olable, not only in your solemn testimonies, when con- 
firmed by an oath, but likewise in common conversa- 
tion. You will remember, too, that your promises 
bring an obligation upon \on, which you are by no 
means at liberty to break through. On the whole., 

M 



134 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

you will be careful to keep a strict correspondence be- 
tween your words and your actions, in *such a manner 
as becomes a servant of the God of truth. 

23. Once more, as amidst the strictest care to observe 
all the divine precepts, you will still discover many im- 
perfections, on account of which you will be obliged 
to pray that God would not enter into strict judgment 
with you, as well knowing-^ctf in his sight you cannot be 

justified : You will be careful not to judge others in 
such a manner as should awaken the severity of his 
judgment against yourself. You will not, therefore, 
judge them pragmatically, that is, when you have to do 
with their actions ; nor rashly, without enquiring into 
circumstances ; nor partially, without weighing them 
attentively and fairly ; nor uncharitably, putting the 
worst construction upon things in their own nature du- 
bious, deciding upon intentions as evil, farther than 
they certainly appear to be so, pronouncing on the 
state of men, or on the whole of their character, from 
any particular action, and involving the innocent with 
the guilty. There is a moderation contrary to all 
these extremes, which the gospel recommends ; and if 
you receive the gospel in good earnest into your heart, 
it will lay the aye to the root of such evils as these. 

24. Having thus briefly illustrated the principal 
branches of the christian temper and character, I shall 
conclude the representation with reminding you of 
some general qualifications, which must be mingled 
with all, and give a tincture to each of them ; such as 
sincerity, constancy, tenderness, zeal, and prudence. 

25. Always remember, " that sincerity is the very 
soul of true religion." A single intention to please 
God, and to approve ourselves to him, must animate 
and govern all that we do in it. Under the influence 
of this principle you will impartially inquire into every 
intimation of duty, and apply to the practice of it so far 
as it is known to you. — Your heart will be engaged in 
all you do. Your conduct in private and in secret will 
be agreeable to your most public behavior. A sense 
of the divine authority will teach you to esteem all God's 
precepts concerning all things to be right^ and to hate every 
false way. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 13S 

S(5, Thus are you in simplicity and godly sincerity to 
Jiave your conversation in the world. And you are also 
to charge it upon your soul to be sttdfast and immovea- 
ble, always abounding in the work of the Lord. There 
must not only be some sudden fits and starts of devo- 
tion, or of something' which looks like it, but religion, 
must be an habitual nnd permanent thing. There 
must be a purpose to adhere to it at all times. It must 
be made the stated and ordinary business of life. De- 
liberate aud presumptuous sins must be carefully avoid- 
ed ; a guard must be maintained against the common 
infirmities of life ; and falls of one kind or of another 
must be matter of proportionable humiliation before 
G )d, and must occasion renewed resolution for his ser- 
vice. And thus you are to go on to the end of your 
life, not discouraged by the length and difficulty of the 
way, nor allured on the one hand or terrified on the 
other, by all the various temptations which may sur- 
round and assault you. Your soul must be fixed on 
this basis, and you a> e still to behave yourself as one 
who knoivs he serves an unchangeable God, and who 
expects from him a kingdom, which cannot be moved. 

27. Again, so far as the goapel prevails on your 
heart, " your spirit will be tender, and the stone will 
be transformed into flesh." You will desire that your 
apprehension of divine things may be quick, your affec- 
tions ready to take proper impressions, your conscience 
always easily touched, and, on the whole, your resolu- 
tions pliant to the divine authority, and cordially wil- 
ling to be, and to do, whatever God shall appoint. You 
will have a tender regard to the word of God, a tender 
caution against sin, a tender guard against the snares 
of prosperity, a tender submission to God's afflicting 
hand; in a word, you will be tender wherever the di- 
vine honor is concerned ; and careful neither to do any 
thing yourself, nor to allow anything in another, so 
far as you have influence, by which God should be of- 
fended, or religion reproached. 

28. Nay, more than ail this, you will so far as true 
Christianity governs in your mind, exert an holy zeal in 
the service of your Redeemer and your Father. You 
mill be zealously affected in every good thing, in propor- 



136 THE RISE AND PROGRESS _ 

tion to its apprehended goodness and importance. You 
will be zealous especially to correct what is irregular 
in yourselves, and to act to the uttermost of your abili- 
ty for the cause of God. Nor will you be able to look 
with an indifferent eye on the conduct of others in this 
view; but so far as charity, meekness, and prudence 
wril admit, vou will testify your disapprobation of eve- 
ry thing in it, which is dishonorable to God and injuri- 
ous to men. And you will labor not only to reclaim 
men from »uch courses, but to engage them to religion, 
and to quicken them in it. 

£9. And, once more, you will desire " to use the 
prudence which God hath given you," in judging what 
is, in present circumstances, your duty to God, your 
neighbor, and yourself; what willi>e, nn the whole, the 
most acceptable manner of discharging it, and how far 
it may be most advantageously pursued : As remem- 
bering, that he is indeed the wisest and happiest man, 
who, by constant attention of thougiit, discovers the 
greatest opportunities of doing good, and with ardent 
and animated resolution breaks through every opposi- 
tion that he may improve these opportunities. 

30. This is such a view of the christian temper at 
could conveniently be thrown within such narrow lim- 
its ; and, I hope, it may assist many in the great and 
important work of self-examination. Let your own 
conscience answer how far you have already attained 
it, and how far you desire it ; and let the principal top- 
ics here touched upoi be fixed in your memory and 
your heart, that you may be mentioning them before 
God in your daily addresses to the throne of grace, in 
order to receive from him all necessary assistance fop 
bringing them into practice. 



A Prayer, chiefly in Scripture Language, in which the 
several branches of the Christian Temper are mon 
briefly enumerated, in the order laid down above* 

BLESSED God, I humbly adore thee, as the great Fa- 
ther of lights, and the giver of every good and every perfect 
gift. From thee, therefore, I seek every blessing, and 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 137 

especially those which may lead me to thyself, and 
prepare me for the eternal enjoyment of thee. I 
adore thee as the God who searches the heart, and tries 
the reigns of the children of men. Search me, O God, and 
know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ; see if 
there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ev- 
erlasting. May I know what manner of spirit I am of 
and be preserved from mistaking where the error 
might be infinitely fatal ! 

May I, O Lord, be renewed in the spirit of my mind ! 
A new heart do thon give me, and a new spirit do thou 
put within me ! Make :ne partaker of a divine nature ; 
and, as he who haih called me is holy, may I be holy in 
all manner of conversation. May the same mind be in 
me that was also in Christ Jesus ; may I so walk even as 
he walked I Deliver me from being carnally minded, 
which is death ; and make me spiritually minded, since 
that is life and peace ! And may I, while I pass through 
this world of sense, walk by faith and not by sight ; and 
be strong in faith* giving glory to- God ! 

May thy grace, O Lord, which haih appeared unto all 
men } and appeared to me with such glorious evidence 
and lustre, effectually teach me to deny ungodliness and 
worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly. 
Work in my heart that godliness which is profitable unto 
all things ; and teach me, by the influences of thy bless- 
ed spirit, to love thee, the Lord my God, with all my heart, 
and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all 
my strength. May I yield myself unto thee as alive from 
the dead ; and present my body a, living sacrifice, holy and 
acceptable in thy sight, which is my most reasonable ser* 
vice. May I entertain the most faithful and affection- 
ate regard to the blessed Jesus, thine incarnate son, 
the brightness of thy glory, and the express image of thy 
person ! Though I have not seen him, may I love him ; 
and in him, though now I see him not, yet believing, may I 
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory : And may 
the life which I live in the flesh , be daily, by the faith of 
the Son efGod t May J be filled with the spirit ; and may 
1 be led by it : and so may it be evident to others, and 
especially to my own soul, that I am a child of God, and 
an heir of glory. May I not receive the spirit of bondage 
M 2 



1 3S THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

unto fear, but the spirit of adoption, whereby I may be en- 
abled to cry, Abba Father! May ic work in me as the 
spirit of love, and of power, and of a sound mind ; that so 
1 may add to my faith virtue ! May I be strong and very 
courageous, and quit myself like a man, and like a chris- 
tian, in the work to which I am called, and in that war* 
fare which I had in view when I listed under the banner 
of that great Captain of my salvation ! 

Teach me, O Lord, seriously to consider the nature 
of my own soul, and to set a suitable value upon it! 
May I labor, not onlv, or chiefly, for the meat that per- 
isheth. but for that which endureth to eternal life ! May I 
humble myself under thy mighty hand, and be clothed with 
humility ; decked with the ornament of a meek and quiet 
spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price I May I 
be pure in heart, that I may see God; mortifying my 
members which are on the earth, so that, if a right eye of- 
fend me, I m ay pluck it out ; and if a right hand offend 
me, I may cut it off May I be temperate in all things, 
content with such things as I have, and instructed to be so 
in whatsoever state I am in. May patience also have its 
perfect work in me, that I may be in that respect com" 
plete, wanting nothing. 

For me, O Lord, I beseech thee to bestow a proper 
temper towards my fellow creatures ! May I love my 
neighbor as myself ; and whatsoever 1 would that others 
should doiihto me, may I also do the same unto them ! May 
Iput on meekness under the greatest injuries and provo- 
cations; and, if it be possible, as much as lieth in me, may I 
live^pcaceably with all men. May I be merciful as my Father 
is merciful I May I speak the truth from my heart ; and 
may I speak it in love ; guarding against every instance 
of a censorious and malignant disposition; and taking 
Care not to judge severely, as 1 would not be judged 
with a severity which thou, Lord, knowest, and which 
my own conscience knows, I should not be able to sup- 
port ! 

Iintreat thee, O Lord^to work in me all those quali- 
fications of the christian temper, which may render it 
peculiarly acceptable to thee, and may prove ornamen- 
tal to my profession in the world. Renew, I beseech 
thee, a right spirit within me ; and make me an Israel" 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 13* 

ite indeed^ in whom there is no allowed guile ! — And 
while 1 feast on Christ, as my passover sacrificed for me, 
may I keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity 
and truth ! Make me. I beseech t>;e<> O thou almigh- 
ty and unchangeable God, stedfast and immoveable, al- 
ways abounding in thy works, as knowing my labor in the 
Lord shall not be finally in vain ! M. \y my heart he en- 
der, easily impressed with thy word and providences, 
touched with an affectionate concern for thy glory, and 
sensible of every impulse of thy Spirit! Miv I be 
zealous for my God, with a zeal according to knowledge 
and charity ; and teach me in thy service to join the 
wisdom of the serpe-it with the boldness of the lion, and 
the innocence of the. dove ! 'Thus render ane, by thy 
grace, a shifting image of ray dear Redeemer ; and at 
length bring me to wear the bright resemblance of his 
holiness and his glory in that world where he dwells ; 
that I may ascr-be everlasting honors to him, and to 
thee, O thou Father of Mercies, whose invaluable gift 
he is, and to thine Holy Spirit, through whose gracious 
influences I would humbly hope, I may call thee my 
Father, and Jesu3 Christ my Saviour l.., t Amen. 



CHAP. XV. 

THE READER REMINDED HOW MUCH HE NEEDS THE AS- 
SISTANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, TO FORM HIM TO THE 
TEMPER DESCRIBED ABOVE, AND WHAT ENCOURAGE- 
MENT HE HAS TO EXPECT £ IV 

Forward resolutions may prove ineffectual, 1. Yet religion is not to be 
given up in despair, but divine grace sought, 2. A general view of 
its reality and necessity, from reason, 3, and scripture, 4. The Spirit 
to be sought as the Spirit of Christ, 5. and in that view, the great 
strength of the soul, 6. The encouragement there is to hope for the 
communication of it, 7. A concluding exhortation to pray for it, 8, 
And an humble Address to God pursuant to that exhortation. 

1. I H WE now laid before you a plan of that tem- 
per and character which the gospel requires, and which) 
if you are a true christian, you will desire and pursue. 
Surely there is in the ?ery description of it, something 



140 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

which must powerfully strike every mind, which has 
any taste for what is truly beautiful and excellent. And 
I question not but you, my dear reader, will feel some 
impression of it upon yout heart. You will immediate- 
ly form some lively purpose of endeavoring after it; 
and perhaps you may imagine you shall certainly and 
quickiy attain to it. You see how reasonable it is, and 
what desirable consequences necessarily attend it, and 
the aspect which it bears on your future happiness ; 
and therefore are determined you will act accordingly. 
But give me leave seriously to remind you how many 
there have been, (would to God that several of the in- 
stances had not happened within the compass of my 
own personal observation!) whose goodness hath been 
like a morning cloud, and the early dew, which soon pas* 
seth away* There is not room indeed absolutely to ap- 
ply the words of Joshua, taken in the most rigorous 
sense, when he said to Israel, that he might humble 
their too hasty and sanguine resolutions, You cannot 
serve the Lord. But I will venture to say, you cannot 
easily do it. Alas ! You know not the difficulties you 
have to break through ; you know not the temptations 
which Satan will throw in your way ; yon know not 
how importunate your vain and sinful companions will 
be to draw you back into the snare you may attempt 
to break ; and above all, you know not the subtle arti- 
iices which your own corruptions will practice upon, 
in order to recover their dominion over you. You 
think the views you now have of things will be lasting, 
because the principles and objects to which they refer 
are so ; but perhaps to-morrow may undeceive you, or 
rather deceive you anew. To-morrow may piesent 
some trifle in a new dress, which shall amuse you into 
a forgetfulness of all this ; nay, perhaps, before you 
lie down on your bed, the impressions you now feel 
may wear off. The corrupt desires of your own heart, 
now perhaps a little charmed down and lying as it were 
dead, may spring up again with new violence, as if 
they had slept only to recruit their vigor ; and if you 
are not supported by a better strength than your own, 
this struggle for liberty will only make your future 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 141 

ehains the heavier, the more shameful, and the more 
fatal. 

2. What then is to he done ? Is the convinced sin- 
ner to lie down in despair ? to say, kC 1 am a helpless 
captive and by exerting* myself with violence may 
break my limbs sooner than my bonds, aad increase the 
evil I would remove,' 1 God forbid ! You cannot, I am 
persuaded, be so little acquainted with Christianity as 
not to know, that the doctrine of divine assistance 
bears a very considerable part in it. You have often, 
I doubt not, read of (fie law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus, as making us free from the law of sin and death ; 
and have been told that through the Spirit we mortify 
the dee Is of the body : You have „*ead of doing all things 
through Christ wh j strengtheneth us ; whose grace is 
sufficient for us, and whose strength is made perfect through 
weakness. Permit me, therefore, now to call down 
your attention to this, as a truth of the clearest evi- 
dence, and the utmost importance. 

3. Reason, indeed, as well as the whole tenor of 
Scripture, agrees with this. The whole created world 
has a necessary dependance on God! from him even 
the knowledge of the natural things is derived ; and 
skill in them is to be ascribed to him. Much more 
loudly does so great and so excellent a work, as the 
new forming tne hum in mind, bespeak its divine au- 
thor. When you consider how various the branches 
of the christian temper are, and haw contrary many of 
them also are to that temper which hath prevailed in 
your heart, and governed your life in time past, you 
must really see divine influences as necessary to pro- 
duce and nourish them, as the influences of the sun 
and rail are to call up the variety of plants, and flow- 
ers, and grain, and fruits, by which the earth is adorn- 
ed and our life supported. You will yet be m<*re sen- 
sible of this, if you reflect on the violent opposition 
which this happy work must expect to meet with, of 
which I shall presently warn you more largely, a$d 
which, if you nave not already experienced, it must be 
because you have but very lately begun to think of 
religion. 

4. Accordingly, if you give yourself leave to coa* 



T42 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

suit scripture on this head, (and if you would live like 
a christian, you must be consulting it every day,) you 
will see, that the whole tenor of it teaches that de- 
pendance upon God which I am now recommending. 
You will particularly s«e, that the production of reli- 
gion in the soul is matter of divine promise ; that 
when it has been effected, scripture ascribes it to a di- 
vine agency, and that the increase of grace and piety 
in the hearts of those who are truly regenerate, is also 
spoken of as the work of God, who begins and carries 
it on until the day of Jesus Christ. 

5. In consequence of all these views, lay it down to 
yourself as a most certain principle, that no attempt 
in religion is to be made in your own strength. If you 
forget this, and God purposes finally to save yor, he 
will humble you by repeated disappointments, till he 
teach you better. You will be ashamed of one scheme 
and effort, and of anotner, till you settle upon the true 
basis. He will also probably show you, not only in 
the general that your strength is to be derived irom 
heaven; but particularly, that it is the office of the 
blessed spirit to purify the heart, and to invigorate ho- 
ly resolutions ; and also, that in all these operations he 
is to be considered as trn Spirit of Christ, working un- 
der his directions, and as a vital communication from 
him, under the character of the great head of the 
church, the grand treasurer and dispenser of these ho- 
ly and beneficial influences. On which account it is 
called the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who is ex» 
alted at the right hand of the Father, to give repentance 
and remission of sins ; in whose grace alone we can be 
strong, and of whose fulness we receive even grace for 
grace. 

6. Resolve, therefore, strenuously for the service ©f 
God, and for the care of your soul; but resolve mod- 
estly and humbly. Even the youths shall faint and be 
weary, and the young men utterly fall ; bufyhey who wait 
on the Lord, are the persons who renew their strength. 
When a soul is almost afraid to declare in the presence 
of the Lord, that it will not do this or that which has 
formerly offended him ; when it is afraid absolutely to 
promise that it will perform this or that duty with vigor 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 143 

and constancy ; but only expresses its humble and earn- 
est desire that it may, by grace, be enabled to avoid 
the one, or pursue the other; then, so far as my ob- 
servation or experience have reached, it is in the best 
way to learn the happy art to conquer temptation, and 
of discharging* duty. 

7. On the other hand, let not your dependance upon 
this Spirit, and your sense of your own weakness and 
insufficiency for any thing spiritually go«d without his 
continued aid, discourage you from devoting yourself to 
God. and engaging in a religions iife, considering what 
abundant reason you have to hope that these gracious 
influences will be communicated to you* The light of 
nature, at the same time that it teaches the need we 
have of help from God in a virtuous course, may lead 
us to conclude, that so benevolent a Being, who be- 
stows on the most unworthy and careless part of man- 
kind so many blessings, will take a peculiar pleasure in 
communicating to such as humbly ask them, t-\ose gra- 
cious assistances which may form their deathless souls 
into his own resemblance, and fit them for that happi- 
ness to which their rational nature is suited, and for 
Tvhich it was in its first constitution intended. The 
word of God will much more abundantly confirm 
such an hone. You there hear divine wisdom crying, 
even to those who had trifled with her instructions, 
Turn ye at my reproof, and I will pour out my Spirit up- 
on you. You hear the apostle saying, Let us come bold* 
ly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and 
find grace to help in every time of need. Yea, you there 
hear our Lord himself urging in his sweet and convinc- 
ing manner, If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts 
unto yowl children,how much more shall your heavenly Fa' 
ther give his holy Spirit unto them that ask him. This 
gift and promise of the Spirit was given unto Christ, 
when he ascended up on high, in trust for all his true 
disciples. God hath shed it abroad upon us in him ; and 
1 may add, that the very desire you feel alter the far- 
ther communication of the Spirit is the result of the 
first fruits of it already given \ so that you may with 
peculiar propriety interpret it as a special call, to 
open your mouth wide that he may fill it. You thirst, and 



144 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

therefore you may cheerfully plead that Jesus hath in- 
vited you to come unto him and drink ; with a promise, 
not only that you shall drink if you come unto him, hut 
also that out of your belly shall flow, as it were, rivers of 
living water , for the edification and refreshment of 
others. 

8 Go forth, therefore, with bumble cheerfulness, to 
the prosecution of all the duties of the christian life. — 
Go, and prosper in the strength (f the Lord, making wen* 
lien of his righteousness, and his only And, as a token 
of for the i communications, may your heart he quicken- 
ed to the most earnest desires jitter the blcssirgs 1 have 
now heen recommending to your pursuit ! May j ou be 
stiried up to pour %ut jour soul before God in such ho- 
ly breathings as these — and may -they he your daily 
language in his gracious presence ! 



An humble Supplication for the influence of Divine Grace 
to form ana strengthen religion in thesovu 

ELESSED God ! 1 sincerely acknowledge before 
thee mine own weakness and insufficiency for any thing 
that is spiritually good. 1 have experienced it a thou- 
sand times ; and yet my foolish heart would again trust 
itself, and form resolutions in its own strength. But 
let this be the first 'ruits of thy gracious influence upon 
it, to bring it to an humble distrust of itself, and to re- 
pose on thee ! 

Abundantly do I rejoice, Lord, in the kind assur- 
ances which thrui givest me of thy readines* to bestow/ 
liberally and richly so great a benefit. I do, therefore, 
according to thy condescending invitation, come with 
boldness to the throne of grace, that I may find grace to 
help in every time of need, 1 mean not, O Lord God, to 
turn thy grace into wantonness or perverseness, or to 
make my weakness an excuse for my negligence and 
sloth. 1 confess thou hast already given me more 
strength than 1 have used ; and 1 charge it upon my- 
self and not on thee, that I have not long since receiv- 
ed still more abundant supplies. 1 desire for the fu- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOTJL. 14* 

ture to be found diligent in the use of all appointed 
means; in the neglect of which, I well know, that pe- 
titions like these would be profane mockery, and might 
much more probably provoke thee to lake away what 
I have, than prevail upon thee to impart more ; but, 
firmly resolving to exert myself to the utmost, I earn- 
estly entreat the communications of thy grace, that I 
may be enabled to fulfil that resolution. 

Be surety, O Lord, unto thy servant for good. Be 
pleased to shed abroad thy sanctifying influences on my 
soul, to form me for every duty thou requirest ! — Im- 
plant, I beseech thee, every grace and virtue deep in 
my heart ; and maintain the happy temper in the 
midst of those assaults from within and without, to 
which I am continually liable while I am still in this 
world, and carry about with me so many infirmities ! 
Fill my breast, I beseech thee, with good affectionsjo- 
wards thee, my God, and towards my fellow crea- 
tures. Remind me always of thy presence ; and may 
I remember, that every secret sentiment of my soul 
is open to thee ! May I, therefore, guard against the 
first risings of sin, and the first approaches to it ! And 
that Satan may not find room for his evil suggestions, 
I earnestly beg that thou, Lord, wouldst fill my heart 
by thine Holy Spirit, and take up thy residence there ! 
Dwell in me, and walk with me j and let my body be the 
temple of the Holy Ghost ! 

May I be go joined to Christ Jesus my Lord, as to be 
one spirit with him, and (eel his invigorating influences 
continually bearing me on, superior to every tempta- 
tion, and to every corruption ! that while the youths 
shall faint and be weary, and the young men utterly fall \ 
I may so wail up on -the Lord as to renew my strength; 
and go on from one degree of faith, and love, and zeal, 
and holiness, to another, till 1 appear perfect before thee in 
Zion, to drink in immortal vigor and joy from thee, as 
the everlasting fountain of both, through Jesus Christ my 
Lord, in whom I have righteousness and strength, and to 
whom I desire ever to ascribe the praise oi all my im- 
provements in both !.... &men. 

N 



146 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XVI. 

THE CHRISTIAN CONCERT WARNED OF, AND ANIMATE© 
AGAINST, THOSE DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH HE MUST 
EXPECT TO MEET WITH, WHEN ENTERING ON A RELI- 
GIOUS COURSE. 

Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties 
in the way to heaven, 1. Therefore, [I.] A more particular view of 
them is taken, as arising (1.) from the remainders of indwelling sin, 2. 
(2.) From the world, and especially from former sinful companions, 
3. (3.) From the temptations and suggestions of Satan, 4. [II.] The 
ChristiaH is animated and encouraged by various considerations to 
oppose them ; particularly, by the presence of God, the aids of 
Christ, the example of others who, though feeble, have conquered, 
and the crown of glory to be expected, 5, 6. Therefore, though 
apostacy would be infinitely fatal, the christian may press on cheer- 
fully, 7. Accordingly the soul, alarmed fey these views, is represent- 
ed as committing itself to God, in the prayer which concludes the 
chapter. 

1. WITH the utmost propriety has our divine mas- 
ter required us to strive to enter in at the straight gate ; 
thereby, as it seems, intimating not ©nly that the pas- 
sage is narrow, but that it is beset with enemies : be- 
set on the right hand and on the left, with enemies 
cunning and formidable. And be assured, O reader, 
that whatever your circumstances in life are, you must < 
meet and encounter them. It will, therefore, be your - 
prudeace to surrey them attentively in your own re- 
flections, that you may see what you are to expect ; 
and may consider in what armor it is necessary you 
should be clothed, and with what weapons you must be 
furnished to manage the combat. You have often 
heard them marshalled, as it were, under three great 
leaders, the flesh, the world and the devil; and accord- 
ing to this distribution. I would call you to consider the 
forces of each, as setting themselves in array against \ 
you. O that you may be excited to. take to yourself the 
whole armour of God and to quit yourself like a man and 

a christian ! 

2. Let your conscience anwer, whether you do not 
carry about with you a corrupt and a degenerate na^ 
ture ? You will, 1 doubt not, feel its effects. You will 
feel, in the language of the apostle, (who speaks of it 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL* 147 

as" the case of christians themselves) the Jlesh lusting 
against the Spirit, so that you will not be able, in all in- 
stances, to do the things that you would. You brought 
irregular propensities into the world along with you ; 
and you have so often indulged those sinful inclinations 
that you have greatly increased their strength ; and 
y©u will find, in consequence of it, that these habits 
cannot be broken through without great difficulty.— 
You will, no doubt, often recollect the strong figures in 
which the prophet describes a case like yours ; and 
you will own that it is justly represented by that oj an 
Ethiopian changing his skin, and the leopard, his spots* 
It is indeed possible that at first yon may find such an 
edge and eagerness upon your own spirits, as aaay lead 
you to imagine, that all opposition will immediately 
fall before you ; but, alas ! 1 fear that in a little time 
these enemies, which seemed to be slain at your feet, 
will revive and recover their vreapons ; and renew the 
assault in one form or another. And perhaps your most 
painful combats may be with such as you had thought 
most easy to be vanquished ; and your greatest danger 
may arise from some of those enemies from whom you 
apprehend the least ; particularly, from pride, and 
from indolence of spirit ; from a secret alienation of 
heart from God, and from an indisposition for convers- 
ing with him, through an immoderate attachment to 
things seen and temporal, which may be oftentimes ex- 
ceeding dangerous to your salvation, though perhap3 
they be not absolutely and universally prohibited. In 
a thousand of these instances you must learn to deny 
yourself or you cannot be Christ's disciple. 

3, You must also lay your account to find great diffi- 
culties from the world ; from its manners, customs, and 
examples. The thing! of the world will hinder you 
©ne way, and the men of the world another. Perhaps 
you may meet with much less assistance in religion 
than you are now ready to expect from good men. — 
The present generation cithern is generally so cau- 
tious to avoid every thing that looks like ostentation, 
and there seems something so insupportably dreadful 
in the charge of enthusiasm, that you will find most of 
oar Christian brethren studying- to conceal their virtue 



!4S THE RISE AND PROGRESS r 

and their piety much more than others study to con- 
ceal their vices and their profaneness. But while, un- 
less your situation be singularly happy, you meet with 
very little aid one way, you will, no doubt, find great 
opposition another. The enemies of religion will be 
bold and active in their assaults, while many of its 
friends seem unconcerned : And one sinner will proba- 
bly exert himself more to corrupt you than ten chris- 
tians to secure and save you. — They who have once 
been your companions in sin, will try a thousand artful 
methods to allure you back again to their forsaken so- 
ciety ; some of them perhaps with an appearance of 
tender fondness : And many more by the almost irre- 
sistible art of banter and ridicule; that boasted test of 
right and wrong, as it has been wantonly called, will 
be tried upon you, perhaps without any regard to de- 
cency, or even to common humanity. You will be de- 
rided and insulted by those whose esteem and affection 
you naturally desire; and may find much more propri- 
ety than you imagine in the expression of the Apostle, 
The trial j)f cruel moclings, which some fear more than 
either sword or flames. This persecution of tongue 
you imist expec* .to go through and perhaps may be 
branded as a lunatic, for no other cause than that you 
now begin to exercise your reason to purpose, and 
will not join with those that are destroying their own 
souls in their wild career of folly and madness. 

4. And it is not at ail improbable that, in the mean 
time, Satan may be doing his utmost to discourage and 
distress you. He will, no doubt, raise in your imagin- 
ation the most tempting idea of the gratifications, the 
indulgences, and the companions you are obliged to 
forsake ; and give you the most discouraging and terri- 
fying view of the difficulties, seventies and dangers 
which are, as he will persuade you, inseparable from 
religion. He will not fail to represent God himself, 
the fountain of goodness and happiness, an hard master, 
whom it is impossible to please. He will perhaps fill 
you with the most distressful fears, and with cruel and 
insolent malice glory over you as his slave, when he 
knows you are theiord's freeman. At one time he 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 149 

will study, by his vile suggestions, to interrupt you in 
your duties, as if they gave him an additional power 
over you ; at another time he will endeavor to weary 
you of your devotion, by influencing you to prolong it 
to an immoderate and tedious length, lest his power 
should be exerted upon you when it ceases. Jn short, 
this practised deceiver has artifices, which it would re- 
quire whole volumes to display, with particular cautions 
against each : And he will follow you with malicious 
arts and pursuits to the very end of your pilgrimage ; 
and will leave no method unatternpted which may be 
likely to weaken your hand*, an-* to sadden your heart; 
that if, through the gracious interposition of God, he 
cannot prevent your final happiness, he may at leastf 
impair your peace and your usefulness as you are pass- 
ing to it. 

5. This is what the people of God feel; and what 
you feel in some degree or other, if you have your lot 
and your portion among them. But after all, be not 
discouraged; Christie the captain of your salvation.-* 
....It is delightful to consider him under this view.... 
When we take a survey of these hosts of enemies, we 
may lift up our heads amid them all, and say, More and 
greater is he that is with us, than all those that are against 
us. Trust in the Lord, and you will be like Mount Zion, 
which cannot be moved, but abide th for ever. When your 
enemies press upon you, remember you are to fight in 
the presence of God, Endeavor therefore to act a gal- 
lant and resolute part ; endeavor to resist them sted- 
fastly in the faith. Remember/?,e can give ' fiower to 
the saint, und increase strength to them who have no might. 
He hath done h in ien thousand instances already ; and 
he will do it in ten thousand more, How many strip- 
lings have conquered their gigantic foes in all their 
most formidable armor, when they have gone forth 
against them, though but, as it were, with a staff and a 
sling, in the name of the Lord God of Israel How ma- 
ny women and children have trodden down the force 
of the enemy, and out of weakness have been made strong. 

6. Amidst all the opposition of earth and hell, look 
upward, and look forward, and you will feel your heart 

N2 



150 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

animated by the view. ^Your General is near ; he U 
near to aid you ; he is near to reward you. When 
you ieel the temptation press the hardest, think of him 
who endured even the cross itself for your rescue- 
View the fortitude of your di*vine Leader, and endeav- 
or to march on in his steps. Hearken to his voice, for 
he proclaims it aloud, Behold* I come quickly, and my re- 
ward is with me. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 
give thee a crown @J life. And oh, how bright will it 
shine ! and how long* will its lustre last ! when the 
gems that adorn the crowns of moriarchs, and pass (in- 
structive thought) from one royal head to another 
through succeeding centuries, a**e melted down in the 
last flame, it is a crown of glory which fadeth not away. 

7. It is indeed true, that such as turn aside to crooked 
paths will be led forth with the workers of iniquity, to 
that terrible execution, which the divine justice is pre- 
paring for them ; and that it would have been better for 
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than of 
tcr having known it to turn aside from the holy command- 
ment. But I would, by divine grace, hope better things 
of you. And I make it my hearty prayer for you, my 
reader, thatyou may be kept by the mighty power of God, 
kept as in a garrison, on all sides foititied in tbe secu- 
rest manner, through faith unto salvation. 



The Soul, alarmed by a sense of these Difficulties, commit- 
ting itself tea divine Protection. 

BLESSED God, it is to thine almighty power that I 
fiee. Behold me,surrounded with difficulties and dan- 
gers, and stretch out thine omnipotent arm to save me, 
Oh thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their 
trust in thee , from them that rise up against them ! This 
day do I solemnly put myself under thy protection ; 
exert thy power in my favor, and permit me to make 
the shadow of thy wings my refuge ! Let thy grace be 
sufficient for me, and thy strength be made perfect in 
my weakness ! I dare not say, I will never forsake thee ; 
I will never deny thee ; But 1 hope I can truly say, O 



OF RELIGIOxN IN THE SOUL. 151 

Lord, I would not do it ; and that, according to my pres- 
ent apprehension and purpose, death would appear to 
me much less terrible than in any wilful and deliberate 
instance to offend thee. O root out those corruptions 
from my heart, which in an hour of pressing* temptation, 
might incline me to view things in a different light, and 
so might betray me into the hand of the enemy ! 
Strengthen my faith, O Lord, and encourage my hope ! 
Inspire Jne with an heroic resolution in opposing every 
thing that lies in my way to heaven ; and let me set my 
face like afiint against all the assaults of earth and hell. 
If sinners entice me, let me not consent ; if they insult me, 
let me not regard it ; if they threaten me, let me not 
fear ! Rather may a holy and ardent yet prudent and 
well governed zeal take occasion, from that malignity 
of heart which they discover, to attempt (heir convic- 
tion and reformation ! At least, let me never be asham- 
ed to plead thy cause against the most profane deriders 
of religion ! M^ke me to hear joy and gladness in my 
soul ; and I will endeavor to teach transgressors thy ways, 
that sinners may be converted unto thee ! Yea Lord, while 
my fears continue, though I should apprehend myself 
condemned, I am condemned so righteously for my owa 
folly, that I would be thine advocate though against 
myself. 

Keep me, O Lord, now, and at all times ! Never let 
me think, whatever age or station I attain, that I am 
strong enough to maintain the combat without thee ! 
nor let me imagine myself, in this infancy of religion in 
my soul, so weak, that thou canst not support me ! 
Wherever thou leadest me, there let me follow ; and 
whatever station tlrou appointest me, there let me la- 
bor, there let me maintain the holy war against all the 
enemies of my salvation, and rather fall in it than base- 
ly abandon it ! 

And thou, O glorious Redeemer, the captain of my 
salvation, the great author and finisher of my faith, when 
I am in danger of denying thee as Peter did, look upoa 
me with that mixture of majesty and tenderness, which 
may either secure me from falling, or may speedily re- 
cover roe to God and my duty again I And teach me to 
take occasion, even from my miscarriages, to bumble 



152 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

myself more deeply for all that has been amiss, and t# 
redouble my future diligence and caution. — Amen* 



CHAP. XVII. 

THE CHRISTIAN URGED TO, AND ASSISTED IN, AN EXPRESS 
ACT OF SELF-DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE OF GOD. 

The advantages of such a surrender are briefly suggested, 1. Advices for 
the manner of doing it ; that it may be deliberate, cheerful, entire, 
and perpetual, 2 — and that it be expressed with some affecting solem- 
nity, 5. A written instrument to be signed and declared before God 
at some season of extraordinary devotion, proposed, 8, 7. The chap- 
ter concludes with a specimen of such an instrument, together vith 
an abstract of it, to be used with proper and requisite alterations. 

1. AS I would hope that, notwithstanding all the 
views of opposition which do or may arise, yet in con- 
sideration of those noble supports and motives which 
have been mentioned in the two preceding chapters, 
you are heartily determined for the service of God, 1 
would now irge you to make a solemn surrender of 
yourself unto it Do not only form such a purpose in 
your heart, but expressly declare it in the divine pres- 
ence. Such solemnity ia the manner of doing it is cer- 
tainly very reasonable in the nature of things ; and 
surely it is highly expedient, for binding to the Lord 
such a treacherous heart as we know our own to be. 
It will be pleasant to reflect upon it, as done at such a 
time, with such and such circumstances of place and 
method, which may serve to strike the memory and 
the conscience. The sense of the vows of God which 
are upon you will strengthen you in an hour of tempta- 
tion ; and the recollection may also encourage your 
humble boldness and freedom in applying to him, under 
the character and relation of your covenant God and Fa- 
iker, as future exigencies may require. 

2. Do it, therefore, but do it deliberately. Consider 
what it is you are to do ; and consider how reasonable 
it is that it should be done, and done cordially and 
cheerfully ; not by restraint^ but willingly : For, in this 
sense and in every other, God hve$ a cheerful giver. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. J 53 

Now surely there is nothing we should do with great- 
er cheerfulness, or more cordial consent than making 
such a surrender of ourselves to the Lord ; to the God 
who created, who brought us into this pleasant and well 
furnished world, who supported us in our tender infan- 
cy, who guarded us in the thoughtless days of child- 
hood and youth, who has hitherto continually helped, 
sustained, and preserved us. Nothing can be more 
reasonable than that we should acknowledge him as 
our rightful Owner and our sovereign Ruler; than that 
we should devote ourselves to him as our most gra- 
cious Benefactor, and seek him as our supreme felici- 
ty. Nothing can be more apparently equitable than 
that we, the product of his power, and the price of his 
Son's blood, should be his, and his forever. Ifyou see 
the matter in its just view, it will be the grief of your 
eoul that you have ever alienated yourself from the 
blessed God and his service ; so far will you be from 
wishing to continue in that state of alienation another 
year, or another day, you will rejoice to bring back to 
him his revolted creature ; and as you have in times 
past yielded your members as instruments of unrighteous- 
ness unto sin. you will delight to yield yourselves unto 
God, as alive from the dead, and to employ your members 
as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

3 Tiie surrender will also be as entire as it is cheer- 
fu! and immediate. All you are, and ail you have, and 
all yo*j can do, your time, your possessions, your influ- 
ence over others, will be devoted to him, that for the 
future it may be employed entirely for him and to his 
glory You will desire to keep back nothing from him ; 
but will seriously judge that you are then in the truest 
and noblest sense your own, when you are most entirely 
his. — You are also, on this great occasion, to resign all 
that you have to the disposal of his wise and gracious 
providence, not only owning his power, but consenting 
to his undoubted right, to do what he pleases with you, 
and all that he has given you ; and declaring a hearty 
approbation of all that he has done, and of all that he 
may farther do. 

Once more, let me remind you, that this surrender 
must be perpetual, You must give yourself up to God 



154 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

in such a manner, as never more to pretend to be jour 
own ; far ihe rights of God are like his nature, eternal 
and immutable ; and with regard to his rational crea- 
tures, are the same yesterday] to day, and forever. 

5. I would farther advise and urge, that this dedi- 
cation may be made with all possible solemnity. Do 
it in express words. And perhaps it maj be in many 
cases most expedient, as many piou3 divines have re- 
commended, to do it in writing. — Set your hand and 
seal to it. That on soch a day of such a month and 
year, and at such a place, on full consideration and seri- 
ous reflection you came to this happy resolution, that 
whatever others might do. you would serve the Lord. 

6. Such an instrument ycu may, if you please, draw 
up for yourself; or if you rather choose to have it 
drawn up to your hand, you may find something of this 
nature below, in which you may easily make such al- 
terations as shall suit your circumstances, where there 
is anj' thing peculiar in them. But whatever you use, 
weigh it well, meditate attentively upon it, that you 
may not be rash with your mouth, to utter any thing be- 
fore God. And when you determine to execute this in- 
strument, let this transaction be attended with some 
more than ordinary religious retirement. Make it, 
if you conveniently can, a day of secret fasting and pray- 
er ; and when your heart is prepared with a becoming 
awe of the divine majesty, with an humble confidence 
in his goodness and an earnest desire of his favor, then 
present yourself on your knees before God, and read it 
over deliberately and solemnly ; and when you have 
signed it lay it by in some secure place, where you 
may review it- whenever you please; and make it a 
rule with yourself to review it, if possible, at certain 
seasons of the year, that you may keep the remem- 
brance of it. 

+ 7. At least, take this course till you see your way 
clear to the table of the Lord, where you are to renew 
the same covenant, and to seal it with more affecting 
solemnities. And God grant that you may be enabled 
to keep it, and in the whole of your conversation, to 
walk according to it ! May it be an anchor to your soul 
in every temptation, and a cordial to it in every afflic- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 155 

tion ! May the recollection ©fit embolden your address- 
es to the throne of grace now, and give additional 
strength to your departing spirit, in a consciousness 
that it is ascending to your ^covenant God and Father, 
and to that gracious Redeemer, whose power and faith- 
fulness will securely keep what you commit to him until 
that day. 



An example of Self- Dedication ; or, A solemn form of 
renewing our Covenant with God. 

" ETERNAL and unchangeable Jehovah, thon great 
creator of heaven and earth, and adorable Lord of an- 
gels and men ! I desire with the deepest humiliation 
and abasement of soul, to fall dowii^at this time in thine 
awful presence ; and earnestly pray, that thoe wilt pen- 
etrate my very heart with a suitable sense of thine un- 
utterable and inconceivable glories ! 

" Trembling may justly take hold upon me, when I, a 
sinful worm of the dust, presume to lift up my head to 
thee, when I presume to appear in thy majestic pres- 
ence on such an occasion as this. Who am I, O Lord 
God, or what is my house ? what is my nature of de- 
scent, my character and desert, that I should speak of 
this, and desire that I may be one party in a Covenant, 
where thau the King of kings, and Lord of Lords^ art 
the other,? 1 blush and am confounded, even to men- 
tion it before thee. But, O Lord, great as is thy ma- 
jesty, so also is thy mercy. If thou wilt hold converse 
with any of thy creatures, thy superlatively exalted 
nature must stoop, must stoop infinitely;' low. And I 
know, that in and through Jesus, the Son of thy love, 
thou condescendest to visit sinful mortals, and to allow 
their approach to thee, and their covenant intercourse 
with thee ; nay, I know that the scheme and plan is 
thine own ; and that thou hast graciously sent to propose 
it to us ; as Eone untaught by thee would have been 
able to form it, or inclined to embrace it, even when 
actually proposed 
M To thee, therefore, do I now come, invited by the 



156 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

name of his Son, and trusting in thy righteousness and 
grace. Laying myself at thy feet with shame and con- 
fusion of face, and smiting upon iny breast, 1 say with 
the humble Publican, God be merciful unto me a sinner! 
I acknowledge. O Lord, that I have been a great trans- 
gressor My sins have reached unto heaven, and mine 
iniquities are lifted up unto the skies. The irregular 
propensities of my corrupted and degenerate nature 
have, in ten thousand aggravated instances, wrought to 
bring forth fruit unto death. And if thou sbouldst be 
strict to mark mine cfTen-ces, I must be silent under a 
load of guilt, and immediately sink into destruction. — 
But thou hast graciouslv called me to return unto thee, 
though I have been a xv an dering sheep, a prodigal sow, 
a ba cksliding child, fe e h o i d , t h e i e r o r e , O Lord, I come 
unto thee. I come, convinced not only of my sin, but 
of my folly. I come from my very heart ashamed of 
myself, and witn an acknowledgment in the sincerity 
and humility of my #oul, that / have played the fool, and 
have erred exceedingly. I am confounded myself at the 
remembrance of these things ; but be thou merciful to 
my unrighteousness, and do not remember against me my 
sins and my transgressions. Permit me, O Lord, to 
bring back unto thee those powers and faculties which 
I have ungratefully and sacrilegiously alienated from 
thy service; and receive, I beseech thee, thy poor and 
revolted creature, who is now convinced of thy right 
to him, and desires nothing in the whole world so 
much as to be thine ! 

"Blessed God r it is with the utmost solemnity that 
I make this surrender of myself unto thee Hear, O 
heavens, and give ear, O earth ; I avouch the Lord this day 
to be my God ; and I avouch and declare myseir this 
day to be one of his covenant children and people — Hear, 

thou God of heaven, and record it in the book of thy 
remembrance, that henceforth I am thine, entirely thine. 

1 would not merely consecrate unto thee some of my 
pawers, or some of my possessions ; or give thee a 
certain proportion of my services, or all I am capa- 
bleof for a limited time — -but I would be wholly 
thine, and thine forever. From this day do I solemnly 
renounce all the former lords which have had dominion 



OF RELIGION IN THE S0UL. 15? 

ovtr me ; every sin and every lust j and bid, in thy 
name, an eternal defiance to the powers of hell, which 
have most unjustly usurped the empire over my soul, 
and to all the corruptions which their fatal temptations 
have introduced into it. The whole frame ot my na- 
ture, all the faculties of my mind, and all the members 
of my body, would I present before thee this day, as a 
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which I 
know to be my most reasonable service, To thee I con- 
secrate all my worldly possessions ; in thy service I de- 
sire to spend all the remainder of my time upon earth, 
and beg thou wouldst instruct and influence me, so that 
Whether my abode here be longer or shorter, every 
year and every month, every day and hour, may be 
tised in such a manner, as shall most effectually pro- 
mote thine honor and subserve the schemes of thy 
wise and gracious providence. And I earnestly pray, 
ihat whatever influence thougivest me over others, in 
any ©f the Superior relations of life in which I may 
stand, or in consequence of any peculiar regard which 
may be paid to me, thou wouldst give me strength and 
(Courage to exert myself to the utmost for thy glory; 
resolving, not only that I will myself do it, but that all 
others, so far as 1 can rationally and properly influence 
* them, shall serve the Lord. In this course, O blessed 
God, would I steadily persevere to the very end of my 
life ; earnestly praying, that every future day of it 
may supply the deficiencies, and correct the irregular- 
ities of the former ; and that I may, by divine grace, 
be enabled, not only to hold on it in that happy way, 
but daily to grow more active in it ! 

u Nor do I only consecrate all that I am and have 
to thy service, but 1 also most humbly resign and sub- 
mit to thine holy and sovereign will, myself* and all 
that I can call mine. I leave, O Lord, to thy manage- 
ment and direction, all I possess, and all I wish ; and 
set every enjoyment, and every interest, before thee, 
to be disposed of as thou pleastjst. Continue, or re- 
move, what thou hast given me \ bestow or refuse, 
what I imagine I want, as thou, Lord, jsfcajt see good ! 
And though I dare not say I will ney&£ repine, y 
ftope J may venture to say, that I will labor, w' 
O 



* O/i/^ 



158 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to submit, but to acquiesce ; not only to bear what 
thou doesi in thy most afflictive dispensations, but to 
consent to it, and to praise thee for it ; contentedly re- 
solving, in all that thou appointest for me, my will into 
th ne, and looking on myself as nothing, and on thee, 

God, as the great eternal All, whose word ought, to 
determine every thing, and whose government ought 
to fee the joy of the whole rational cieation 

" Use me, O Lord, 1 beseech thee, as the instrument 
of thy gloy, and honor me so far as, either by doing or 
suffering what thou shalt appoint, to bring some revenue 
of praise to thee, and of benefit to the world in which 

1 dwell. And may it please thee, from this day for- 
ward, to number me among tty peculiar people, that I 
may be no more a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow- 
citizen with the saints and of the household of God, Re- 
ceive, O heavenly Father, thy returning prodigal ! 
Wash me in the blood of thy dear Son ; clothe me with 
his perfect righteousness ; and sanctity me throughout 
by the power of thy Spirit ! — Destroy, I beseech thee, 
more and moie the power of sin in my heart ; trans- jf 
iorm me more and mor^ into thine own image, 
and fashion me to the resemblance of Jesus, whom" 
henceforward I would acknowledge as my teacher and 
sacrifice ; my intercessor and my Lord ! Communicate 
to me, I beseech thee, all needful influences of thy pu- 
Tifving, thy cheering, and thy comforting spirit ; and 
lift up that light of thy countenance upon me, which will 
put the subhmest joy and gladness into my soul ! 

" Dispose my affairs, O God, in a manner which may 
be most subservient to thy glory, and my own truest 
happiness; and when I have done and borne thy will 
upon earth, call me from hence at what time and in 
what manner thou pleasest ; only grant that in my dy- 
ing moments, and in the near prospect of eternity, I 
may remember these my engagements to thee, and 
may employ my latest breath in thy service !— A«d do 
thou,Lord, when thou seest the agonies of dissolving na- 
ture upon me, remember this covenant, too, even though 
I should then be incapable of recollecting it! Look down, 
O my heavenly Father, with a pitying eye upon thy lan- 
guishing, thy dying child !. place thine everlasting arms 



1 OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 159 

under me for my support ; put strength and confidence 
in my departing spirit ; and receive it to the embraces 
of thine everlasting love 1 Welcome it to the abodes of 
them that sleep in Jesus, to wait with them that glorious 
day when the la*t of thy promises to thy covenant peo- 
ple shall be fulfilled in their triumphant resurrection, 
and that abundant entrance which shall be administered 
to them into that everlasting kingdom, of which thou hast 
assured them by thy covenant, and in the hcpe of 
which \ now lay hold on it, desiring to live and die as 
with mine hand on that hope. 

44 And when I 'am thus numbered among the dead, 
and ail the interests of mortality are over with me for 
ever, if this solemn memorial should chance to fall into 
the hands of any surviving friends, may it be the means 
of making serious impressions on their minds! May 
they read it, not only as my language, but as their own; 
and learn to fear the Lard my God, and with me to put 
their trust under the shadow of his wings for time and for 
eternity! And may they also learn to adore with me 
that grace, which inclines our hearts to enter into the 
covenant, and condescends to admit us into it when so 
inclined ; ascribing with me, and with all the nations 
of the redeemed, to the Father, the Son, and the Ho- 
ly Ghos/, that glory, honor and praise, which is so just- 
ly due to each divine person for the part he bears in 
this illustrious work ! — Amen." 



K. B. For the sake of those who may think the preceding form of 
self dedication toe long to be transcribed, (as it is probable many 
will,) I have, at the. desire of a much esteemed friend, added the fol- 
lowing- abridgment of it, which should by all means be attentively 
weighed in every clause before it be executed ; and any word or 
p&rase which may seem liable to exception, changed, that the whole 
fceart may consent to it. 

46 Eternal and ever blessed God j I desire to present 
myself before thee with the deepest humiliation and 
abasement of soul ; sensible how unworthy such a sin- 
ful worm is to appear before the holy majesty of heav- 
en, the King of kings and Lord of lords, and especially 
on such an occasion as this, even to enter into a cove- 
nant transaction with thee ! But the scheme anxLplaa 



im THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

is thine own Thiae infinite condescension hath offer- 
ed it by thy Son, and thy grace hath inclined my heart 
to accept of it, 

" I come, therefore, acknowledging myself to have 
been a great offender ; smiting on my breast, and say- 
ing with the humble publican, God be merciful unto me 
a sinner! I come, invited by the name of thy Son, and 
wholly trusting in his perfect righteousness ; intreat- 
ingthat, for his sake, thou wilt be merciful to my un- 
righteousness, and wilt no more remember ojy sins. 
Receive, I beseech thee* thy revolted creature, who 
is now convinced of thy right to him, and desires no- 
thing so much as that he may be thine ! 

u This day do I, with the utmost solemnity, ^surren- 
der myself to thee ! I renounce all former lords thatf 
have had dominion over me ; and 1 consecrate to thee all 
that I am, and all that I have ; the faculties of my 
mind, the members of my body, my worldly posses- 
sions, my time, and my influence over others; to be all 
used entirely for thy glory, and resolutely employed 
in obedience to thy commands, as long as thou contin* 
uest me in life ; with an ardent desire and humble res- 
olution to continue thine through all the endless ages 
of eternity; ever holding myself in an attentive pos- 
ture to observe the first intimations of thy will, and 
ready to spring forward, with zeal and joy, to the im- 
mediate execution of it ! 

"To thy direction also I resign myself, and all I am 
and have, to be disposed of by thee in such a manner 
as thou shalt in thine infinite wisdom judge most sub- 
servient to the purposes of thy glory. To thee Heave 
the management of all events, and say without reserve, 
Not my will, but thine be done ! Rejoicing with a loyal 
heart, in thine unlimited government, as what ought to 
be the delight of the whole rational creation. 

u Use me, O Lord, I beseech thee, as an instrument of 
thy service. Number me among thy peculiar people* 
Let me be washed in the blood of thy dear son ! let 
me be clothed with his righteousness ; let me be sancti- 
fied by his spirit \ Transform me more and more into 
his image ! Impart to me, through him, all needful in- 
fluences of thy purifying, cheering, and comforting 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 161 

spirit ! And let my life be spent under those influences, 
and in the light of thy gracious countenance, as my Fa- 
ther and my God ! And when the solemn hour of death 
comes^ may I remember this thy covenant, well ordered in 
all things and sure, as all my salvation and all my desire^ 
though every other hope and enjoyment is perishing ! 
And do thon, O Lord, remember it too! Look down 
with pity, O my heavenly Father, on thy languishing, 
dying child ! Embrace me in thine everlasting arms ! 
Put strength and confidence into my departing spirit ! 
aad receive it to the abodes of them that sleep in Jesus, 
peacefully and joyfully to wait the accomplishment of 
thy great promise to ail thy people, even that of a glo- 
rious resurrection, and of eternal happiness in thine 
heavenly presence ! And if any surviving friend should, 
when I am in the dust, meet with this memorial of my 
solemn transactions with thee, may he make the en- 
gagement his own ; and do thou graciously permit him 
to partake in all the blessings of thy covenant, through 
Jesus the great Mediator of it ! — To whom, with thee, 
O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be everjasting praises 
ascribed, by all the millions who are thus saved by 
thee, aud by all those other celestial spirits, in whose 
work and blessedness thou shalt call them to share £— 



CHAP. XVIII. 

ON ENTERING INTO CHURCH-COMMUNION BY AN AT- 
TENDANCE UPON THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

The reader, being already supposed to have entered into covenant with 
God, 1. is urged publicly to seal that engagement at the table of the 
Lord, 2. (1.) Frum a view of the ends for which that ordinance was 
instituted, 3. whence its usefulness is stronglv inferred, 4. And, (2-) 
From the authority of Christ's appointment ; which is solemnly 
pressed on the conscience, 5. Objections from apprehensions of an 
unfitness, 6. Weakness of grace, &c. briefly answered, 7. At least, 
serious thought on this subject is absolutely insisted upon, 8. The 
chapter is closed with a prayer for one who desires to attend, yet 
finds himself pressed with remainiog doubts. 

1 I HOPS this chapter will find yon, by a most ex- 
press consent, become one of God's covenant people, 
02 



162 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

solemnly and cordially devoted to his service ; and it 
is my hearty prayer, that the covenant you have made 
on earth may he ratified in heaven. But for your far- 
ther instruction and edification, give me leave to re- 
mind you, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath appointed a 
peculiar manner of expressing our regard to him, and 
of solemnly renewing his covenaat with him, which, 
though it does not forbid any other proper way of do- 
ing it, must by no means be set aside or neglected for 
any human methods, how prudent and expedient soev- 
er they may appear to us. 

2. Our lord has wisely ordained, that the advanta- 
ges of society should be brought into religion ; and as 
by his command professing christians assemble togeth- 
er for other acts of public worship, so he has been 
pleased to institute a social ordinance, in whieh a whole 
assembly of them is to come to his table, and there to 
eat the same bread and drink the same cup. And this 
they are to do as a taken of their affectionate remem- 
brance of his dying love, of their solemn surrender of 
themselves to God, and of their sincere love to one 
another, and to all their fellow christians, 

3. That these are indeed the great ends of the 
Lord's Supper, I shall not now stay to argue at large. 
You need only read what the apostle Paul has written 
in the tenth and eleventh chapters of his first epistle 
to th6 Corinthians to convince you fully of this. He 
there expressly tells us that our L«rd commanded the 
bread to be eaten, and the wine to be drank in remem- 
brance of him, or as a commemoration or memorial of 
him; so that, as often as we attend this institution, we 
show forth our Lord's death, which we are to do even 
until he come again. And it is particularly asserted, 
that the cup is the new testament in his blood; that is, 
it is a seal of that covenant which was ratified by his 
blood. Now, it is evident that, in consequence of this, 
we are to approach it with a view to that covenant, 
desiring its blessings, and resolving, by divine grace, to 
comply with its demands. On the whole, therefore, as 
the apostle speaks, we have communion in the hody 
and blood of Christ ; and partaking of his table and of 
his cup, we converse with Christ, and join ourselves to 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 163 

him as his people ; as the heathens had, in their idola- 
trous rites, communion with their deities, and joined 
themselves to them ; and as the Jews, by eating their 
sacrifices, conversed with Jehovah, and joined them- 
selves to hitn. He farther reminds them, that though 
many, they were one bread and one body* being all par* 
takers of that one bread, and being all made to drink into 
one spirit ; that is, meeting together as if but one fami- 
ly, and joined in the commemoration of that one blood 
which was their common ransom, and of the Lord Je« 
sus their common head. Now, it is evident, that all 
these reasonings are applicable to christians in suc- 
ceeding ages. Permit me, therefore, by the authority 
of our divine Master, to press upon you the observation 
of this precept 

4. And let me also urge it from the apparent ten- 
dency which it has to promote your truest advantage. 
You are setting out in the. christian life ; and I have 
reminded you at large of the opposition you must ex- 
pect to meet with in it. It is the love of Christ which 
must animate you to break through all. What then 
can be more desirable than to bear about with you a 
lively sense of it ? and what can awaken that sense 
more than the contemplation of his death as there rep- 
resented ? Who can behold the bread broken, and the 
wine poured out, and not reflect how the body of the 
blessed Jesus was even torn in pieces by his sufferings, 
and his sacred blood poured forth like water on the 
ground ? Who can think ©f the heart-rending agonies 
of the Son of God, as the price of our redemption and 
salvation, and not feel bis soul melted with tenderness, 
and inflamed with grateful affection? What aa exalted 
view doth it give us of the blessings of the gospel cov- 
enant when we consider it as established in the blood of 
GooVs only begotten Son ? and when we make our ap- 
proach to God, as «ur heavenly Fafher, and give up 
ourselves to his service in this solemn manner, what aa 
awful tendency has it to fix the conviction, that we are 
not our own, being bought with such a price ? What a ten- 
dency has it to guard against every temptation to those 
sins which we have so solemnly renounced, and to en- 
gage our fidelity to him to whom we have bound our 



1S4 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

souls as with an oath ? Well may our hearts be knit te- 
gether in mutual love, when we consider ourselves as one 
in Christ ; his blood becomes the cement of the society, 
joins us in spinl.not only in each other, but to all that 
in- every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
both theirs and ours ; and we anticipate, in pleasing 
hope, that blessed day when the assembly sball be com- 
plete, and we shall all be for ever with the Lord. — Well 
may tht* s views engage us to deny ourselves and take up 
our cross andfoV^w our crucified Master ; well may 
they engage us to do our utmost bj player, and all 
other suitable endeavors, to serve his followers and his 
friends ; to serve those whom he hath purchased with 
his blood, and who are to be his associates and ours in 
the glories of an happy immortality, 

5. It is also the express institution and command of 
our blessed Redeemer, that the members of such soci- 
eties should be tenderly solicitous for the spiritual wel- 
fare of each other ; and that, on the whole, his church- 
es mav be kept pure and holy, that they should with- 
draw themselves from every brother that walketh disorder- 
ly ; that they should mark such as cause offences or scar^' 
dais amongst them contrary to the doctrine which they have 
learned, and avoioHhem ; that if any obey not the word 
of Christ by his apostles, they should have no fellow- 
ship or communion with such, that they may be asham- 
ed ; that they should not eat with such as are notori- 
ously irregular in their behavior ; but, on the contrary, 
should put away from among themselves such wicked 
persons. It is evident, therefore, that the institution of 
such societies is greatly for the honor of Christianity, 
and for the advantage of its particular professors, and 
consequently, every consideration of obedience to our 
common Lord, and of prudent regard to our own ben- 
efit and that of our brethren, will require, that those 
who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, should 
enter into them, and assemble among them in these 
their most solemn and peculiar acts of communion at 
his table. 

6. 1 mJreat you, therefore, and, if I may presume t© 
say it, in his name and by his authority, 1 charge it on 
your conscience, that this precept of our dying Lord go 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 165 

not, as it were, for nought with you ; but that, if you 
indeed love him, you keep this as well as the rest of 
his commandments. I know you may be ready to form 
objections. I have elsewhere debated many of the 
chief of them at large, and I hope, not without some 
good effect. The great question is that which relates 
to your being prepared foe a worthy attendance ; and, 
in conjunction with what hath been said before, I think 
that may be brought to a very short issue. Have you, 
so far as you know your own heart, been sincere in 
that deliberate surrender of yourself to God through 
Christ, which I recommended in the former chapter ? 
If you have., (whether it were wither without the par- 
ticular form or manner of doing it there recommended) 
you have certainly taken hold of the covenant, and 
therefore have a right to the seal of it. And there is 
not, and cannot be, any other view of the ordinance in 
which you can have any farther objection to it. If you 
desire to remember Christ's death, — if you desire to 
renew the dedication of yourself to God through him, 
— if you would list yourself among his people, — if you 
would love them, and do them good according to your 
ability: and, on the whole, would not allow yourself in 
the practice of any one known sin, or in the omission of 
any one known duty, — then I will venture confidently 
to say, not only that you will be welcome to the ordin- 
ance, but that it was instituted for such as you. 

7. As for other objections, a few words might suffice, 
by way of reply. Toe weakness of the religious prin- 
ciple in your soul, if it be really implanted there, is so 
far from being ati argument against your seeking such 
a method to strengthen it^ that it rather strongly en- 
forces the necessity of doing it. The neglect of this 
solemnity, by so many who call themselves christians, 
should rather engage you so much the more to distin. 
guish your zeal for an institution, in this respect so 
much slighted and injured. And as for the fears of ag- 
gravated guilt in case of apostacy, do not indulge them. 
This may, by the divine blessing, be an effectual reme- 
dy against the evil you fear ; and it is certain, that af- 
ter what you must already have known and felt, before 
you could be brought into your present situation, (on 



186 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

the suppositions I have now been making,) there can 
be no room to think of a retreat; no room, even fer 
f the wretched hope of being less miserable than the 
generality of those that have perished. Yogr scheme, 
therefore, must be, to make jour salvation as sure, and 
to make it as glorious as possible ; and I know norany 
appointment of our blessed Redeemer which may have 
a more comfortable aspect upon that blessed end, than 
this which I am now recommending to you. 

8 One thing I would at least insist upon, and I see 
not with what face it can be denied. I mean, that you 
should take this matter into a serious consideration ; 
that you should diligently enquire, whether you have 
reason in your conscience to believe it is the will of 
God, you should now approach to the ordinance or not; 
and that you should continue your reflections, your in- 
quiries, and your prayers, till you find farther encour- 
agemeBt to come, if 'hat encouragement be hitherto 
wanting. For of this be assured v thata state in which 
you are on the whole unlit to approach this ordinance, 
is a state in which you are destitute of the necessary 
preparation ior death and heaven ; in which, therefore, 
'if you would not allow yourselves to slumber on the 
torink of destruction, you ought not to rest so much as 
one single day. 



Prayer for one who earnestly desires to approach to the 
table of the Lord, yet has some remaining doubts con' 
ceming his right to that solemn ordinance. 

BLESSED Lord, I adore thy wise and gracious ap- 
pointments for the edification of thy church in holi- 
ness and in love. I thank thee that thou hast com- 
manded thy servants to form themselves into socie- 
ties ; and I adore my gracious Saviour who hath in- 
stituted, as with his dying breath, the holy solemnity 
of his supper, to be through all ages a memorial of his 
dying love, and a bond of that union, which it is his 
sovereign pleasure that his people should preserve. 
1 hope thou 3 Lord, art witness to the sincerity with 



OF RELIGION TN THE SOUL. 1 67 

which I desire to give myself up to fhee ; and that I 
may caii thee to record on /ny soul, that if 1 now hesi- 
tate about this particular meaner of doing it, it is not 
because I would allow myself to break any of thy 
commands or to slight any of thy favors. I trust thou 
knowest, that my present delay arres only from an 
uncertainty as to my own duty, and a fear of profan- 
ing* holy things by an unworthy approach to them. 
Yet surely, O Lord, it thou h&st given me a reverence 
for thy com nand, a desire of communion with thee, 
and a willingness to devote myself wholly to thy ser- 
vice, I may regard it as a token for good, that thou art 
disposed to receive me, and that 1 am not wholly un- 
qualified for the ordinance which 1 so highly honor, 
and so earnestly desire I therefore make it mine 
humble request unto thee, O Lord, this day, that thou 
wouldst graciously be pleased to instruct me in my 
duty,, and to teach me the way which I should take! Ex* 
amine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my 
heart! Is there any secret sin, the love and prac- 
tice of which I would indulge ? Is there any of thy 
precepts, in the habitual breach of which I would al- 
low myself? 1 trust I can appeal to thee as a witness 
that there is not. Let me not then wrong mine own 
soul by a causeless and sinful absence from thy sacred 
table ! But grant, O Lord, I beseech thee, that thy 
word, thy providence, and thy spirit raay so concur, 
as to make my way plain before me ! Scatter my re- 
maining doubts, if thou seest they have no just foun- 
dation! Fill me with a more assured faith, with i 
moreardent love; and plead thine own cause with 
my heart in such a manner as that I raay not be able 
any longer to delay that approach, which if I am thy 
servant indeed, is equally my duty and my privilege! 
In the mean tiaie grant that I may never be long out 
of my thoughts ; but that I may give all diligence, if 
there be any remaining occasion of doubt, to remove 
it by a more affectionate concern to avoid whatever is 
displeasing to the eyes of thy holiness, and to prac- 
tice the full extent of my duty ! May the views of 
Christ crucified be so familiar to my mind, and may a 
sense of his dying love so powerfully constrain my soul, 



1U THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

that myown growing experience may put it out of all 
question, that 1 am one of those for whom he intended 
tibtis feast of love! 

And even now, as joined to thy churches in spirit 
and in love, though not in so express and intimate a 
bond as I could wish, would I heartily praj', that (by 
ble.sing may be on all thy people i that thou wmddst 
feed thine heritage* and lift them up forever J May ev- 
ery christian society flourish in kiowiedge in holi- 
ness and in love ! May all thy priests be clothed with 
salvation, that by their meaus thy chosen people may bi 
made joyful! and may there be a glorious accession to 
thychmches every where, of those who may fly to 
them as a cloud, and as doves to their windows ! May 
thy table, O Lord, be furnished with guests ; and may 
all that love thy salvation, say* Let the Lord be magni- 
fied* who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants I 
And I earnestly pray, that all who profess to have re- 
ceived Christ Jesus? the Lord, may be duly careful to 
walk in him ; and that we may all be preparing for 
the general assembly of the first born, and may join 
in that nobler and immediate worship, whese all these 
types and shadows shall be laid aside ; where even 
these memorials shall be no longer necessary, bat a 
living, present Redeemer shall be the everlasting joy 
of those who here in his absence have delighted te 
comtiaemorate his death ! Amen. 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 169 



CHAP. XIX. 

SOME MORE PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS FOR MAINTAINING 
CONTINUAL COMMUNION WITH GOP, OR BEING IN HIS 
FEAR ALL THE DAY LONG. 

A letter to a pious friend on this subject introducecttiere, 1. A general 
plan of direction'; 2. [I.] For the beginning of the day, 3, (1.) Lift- 
ing up the heart to God at our first awakening, 4, (2.) Setting our- 
selves to the =ecret devotions of the morning; with respect to which 
particular advices are given, 5 — 10. [II.] For the progress of the 
day, 11. Directions are given concerning, (1.) Seriousness, in devo- 
tion, 12. (2.) Diligence in business, 13. (3.) Prudence in recreations, 
14. (4.) Observation of providences, 15. [5.] Watchfulness against 
temptations, 16. [6.] Dependance on divine influences, 17. [7.] 
Government of the thoughts when in solitodei 18. [8.] Management 
ofdiscousre in company, 19; [HL] For the conclusion of the day, 
20. (1.) With the secret devotions of the evening, 21. Directions 
for self examination, 22, 23. (2.) Lying down with a proper temper, 
24. Conclusion of the letter, 25. and the Chapter, 26. With a seri- 
eus view of death proper to be taken at the close of the day. 

1. T WOULD hope, that upon serious consideration^ 
self examination, and prayer, the reader maj by this 
time be come to a resolution to attend the table of the 
Lord, and to seal his vows there. I will now suppose 
that solemn transaction to be over, or some other de- 
liberate act to have passed, by which be has given him- 
self up to the service of God; and that his concern 
now is to enquire how he may act according to the 
vows of God which are upon him. Now, for his fur- 
ther assistance here, besides the general view 1 have 
already given of the christian temper and character, I 
will propose some more general directions relating to 
maintaining that devout, spiritual, and heavenly char- 
acter, which may, iu the language of scripture, be 
called A daily walking with God ; or beitig in his fear all 
the day long. And I know not how I can express the 
idea and plan which I have formed of thii in a more 
clear and distinct manner than I did in a letter, which 
I wrote many years ago to a young person of eminent 
piety with whom I had an intimate friendship: and who, 
to the great grief of all that knew him, diet) a few 
months after he received it. Yet I hope he lived long 
enough to reduce the directions into practice, which 1 
P 



170 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

wish and pray that every reader may do, so far as they 
may properly suit his capacities and circumstances in 
life, considering* it as if addressed to himself. I say, 
(and desire it may be observed ) that I vyish my reader 
may act on these directions so far as they may properly 
suit his capacities and circumstances in life j; fori would 
be far from laying down the following particulars as 
universal rules for all, or for any one person in the 
world at all times. Let them be practised by those 
that are able., and when they have leisure; and when 
y©u cannot reach them all, come as near the most im- 
portant of them as you conveniently can. With this 
precaution I proceed to the letter, which I hope after 
this previous care to guard against the danger of mis- 
taking it, will not discourage any the weakest christian. 
Let us humbly and cheerfully do our best, and rejoice 
that we have so gracious a Father^ who knows all our 
infirmities^ and so compassionate an high priest to re- 
commend to divine acceptance the feeblest efforts of 
sincere-duty and love ! 

My dear friend, 

Since you desire my thoughts in writing, and at large, 
on the subject of our late conversation, viz : — u By what 
particular methods, in our daily conduct, a life of devo- 
tion and usefulness may be most happily maintained and 
secured?" I set myself with cheerfulness to recollect 
and digest the hints which I then gave you, hoping it 
may be of some service to you in your most important 
interests, and may also fix on my own milid a deeper 
sense of my obligations to govern my own life by the 
.rules 1 offer to others. 1 esteem attempts of this kind 
among the pleasantest fruits, and the surest cements ol 
friendship : and, as 1 hope ours will last for ever, I am 
persuaded a mutual care to cherish sentiments of this 
kind will add everlasting endearments to it. 

£. The directions you will expect from me on this 
occasion naturally divide themselves into three heads. 
How we are to regard God— in the beginning — the pro- 
gress—and the close of the day. I will open my heart 
freely to you with regard to each, and will leave you 
to judge how far these hints may suit "your circumstan- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 171 

ces ; aiming at. least to keep between the extremes of 
a superstitious strictness m trifles, and an indolent re- 
missness, which, if admitted in little things, may draw 
after it criminal neglects, and at length yet more crim- 
inal indigencies. 

3. [I.] In the beginning of the day it should certain- 
ly be our care, to lift up our hearts to God as soon as 
we awake, and while we are rising, and then to set our- 
selves seriously and immediately to the secret devotions 
of the morning. 

4. For the first of these it seems exceedingly natural. 
There are so many things that may suggest a great va- 
riety of pious reflections and ejaculations, which are so 
obvious, that one would think a serious mind could hard- 
ly miss them. The ea*e and cheerfulness of our mind 
at our first awakening ; the refreshment we find from 
sleep ; the security we have enjoyed in that defence- 
less state ; the provision of warm and decent apparel ; 
the cheerful light of the returning sun ; or (what is not 
unfit to mention to you) the contrivances of art taught 
and furnished by the great author of all our convenien- 
ces, to supply us with many useful hours of life in the 
absence of the sun ; the hope of returning to the dear 
society of our friends ; the prospect of spending anoth- 
er day in the service of God, an$ the improvement of 
our own mind ; and above all, the lively hope of a joy- 
ful resurrection to an eternal day of happiness and glo- 
ry. Any of these particulars, and many more, which 
I do not mention, may furnish us with matter of pleas- 
ing reflection, and cheerful praise, while we are rising. 
And for our farther assistance, when we are alone at 
this time, it may not be improper to speak sometimes 
to ourselves, and sometimes to our heavenly Father, in 
the natural expressions of joy and thankfulness*— Per- 
•tiit me, sir, to add, that if we find our hearts in such a 
frame at our first awakening, even that is just matter of 
praise, .and the rather,, as perhaps it is an answer to 
the prayer with which we lay down, 

5. For the exercise of secret devotion in a morning 
which I hope will generally be our first work, 1 cannot 
prescribe an exact method to another. You must, my 
dear friend, consult your own taste in some measure.—" 



HZ THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

The constituent parts of the service are in the general 
plan. Were I to propose a particular model for those 
who have half, or three quarters of an hour at com- 
mand, (which with prudent conduct, 1 suppose most 
may have) it should be this : 

6. TVbegin the stated devotions of the day with a 
solemn act of j/iaise, offered to God on our knees, and 
generally with a low, yet distinct voice acknowledging 
the mercies we had been reflecting oa while rising; 
never forgetting to mention Christ, as the great foun- 
dation of all our enjoyments and our hopes, or return 
thanks fur the influences of the blessed spirit, winch 
have led our hearts to God,, or then engaging us to seek 
him. This, as well as other offices of devotion after- 
wards mentioned, must he done attentively andsincere- 
]y ; for, not to offer our praises heartily, is in the sight 
of God, not to praise him at ail. This address of praise 
may properly be concluded with an express renewal 
of our covenant with God, declaring our continued re- 
peated resolution of being devoted to him, and particu- 
larly of living to his glory the ensuing day. 

7. It maybe proper, after this, to-take a prospect of 
the day before us, so far as we can properly foresee, 
in the general, where and how it may be spent ; and 
seriously to reflect, li Haw shall I employ myself for 
God this day ? What business is to be done, and in what 
order ? What opportunities may I expect, either of 
doing or receiving good ? What temptations am I 
like to be assailed with, in an*y place, company, or cir- 
cumstance which may probably occur ?-ln what instan- 
ces have I lately failed ? and how shall I be safest 
now ?" 

8. After this review, it will be, proper to offer up a 
snort prayer, begging, that God would quicken us to 
each of these foreseeing duties ; that he would fortify 
us against each of these* apprehended, dangers ; that 
he would grant us success in such or such a business 
undertaken for his glory ; and also that he would help 
us to discover and improve unforeseen opportunities, to 
resist unexpected temptations, and to bear patiently 
and religiously any afflictions which may surprize us in 
the day on which we are entering.^ 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 173 

9. I would advise you after this to read some portttm 
of scripture ; not a great deal, nor the whole Bible in 
its course ; but some select lessons out of its most use- 
ful parts ; perhaps ten or twelve verses ; aor troubling 
yourself much about the exact connection, or other 
critical niceties which may occur, (though at other 
times I would recommend them to your enquiry, as you 
have ability and opportunity ;) but considering them 
merely in a devotional and practical view. Here take 
such instructions as readily present themselves to your 
thoughts, repeat them over to your own conscience, 
and charge your heart religiously to observe them, and 
act upon them under a sense of the divine authority 
which attends them. And if you pray over the sub- 
stance of this scripture, with your Bible open before 
you, it may impress your memory and your heart yet 
more deeply, and may form you to a copiousness and 
variety both of4hought and expression in prayer. 

10. ft might be proper to close these devotions with 
a psalm or hj 7 mn ; and I rejoice with you, that through 
the pious care of Dr. Watts, and some other sacred po- 
ets, we are provided with so rich a variety for the as- 
sistance of the closet and family on these occasions, as 
well as for the service cf the sanctuary. 

11. [II.] The most material directions which have 
occurred to me relating to the progress of the day, are 
these : That we be serious in the devotions of the day ; 
that we delight in the business of it, that is, in the pros- 
ecution of our worldly callings ; that we be temperate 
and prudent in the recreations of it ; that we carefully 
mark the providences of the day ; that we cautiously 
guard against the temptations of it ; that we keep up a 
lively and humble dependance upon the divine influ- 
ence, suitable to every emergency of it ; that we gov- 
ern our thoughts well in the solicitude of the day, and 
our discourses well in the conversations of it. These, 
sir, were the heads of a sermon which you lately heard 
me preach on this occasion, and to which I know you 
referred in that request which I am now endeavoring 
to answer. I will, therefore, touch upon the most ma- 
terial hints which fell under each of these particulars. 

12. (I.) For seriousness in devotion, whether public 

P 2 



•174 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

or domestic ; let us take a few moments before we en- 
ter upon such solemnities, to pause, and reflect on the 
perfections of the God we are addressing, on the im- 
portance of the business we v are going about, on the 
pleasure and advantage of a regular and devout attend- 
ance, and on the gu»it and folly of an hypocritical for- 
mality. When engaged, let us maintain a strict watch- 
fulness over our own spirits, and check the first wan- 
derings of thought And when the duty is over, let us 
i nmedmtely reflect on the manner in which it has been 
performed, and ask our consciences whether we have 
FcftftOn to conclude that we are accepted of God in it ? 
For there is a certain manner of going through these 
offices, which our own hearts will immediately tell us 
it is impossible for God to approve ; and if we have in- 
advertantly fallen into it, we ought to he deeply hum- 
Wed before God for it, lest our very prayer become sin. 

13. (2.) As for the hours of worldly business ; 
whether it be, as wi f h you, that of the hands ; or 
whether it be the labor of a learned life, not immedi- 
ately relating to religious matters; let us set to the 
prosecution of it with a sense of God's authority, and 
with regard to his glory. Le.t us avoid a dreaming, slug- 
gish, indolent temper, which nods over its work, and 
does only the business of one hour in two or three. In 
opposition to this, which runs through the life of some 
people who yet think they are never idle, let us en. 
deavor to despatch as much as we well can in a little 
time; considering that it is hut little we have in all. — 
And let us be habitually sensible of the need we have 
of the divine blessing to make our labors successful. 

14 (3.) For seasons of diversion ; let us take care 
that our recreations be well chosen ; that fhey are 
pursued with a good intention, to fit us for a renewed 
application to the labors of life ; and thus shat they be 
only used in subordination to the honor of God, the great 
end of all our actions. — Let us take heed that our hearts 
be not estranged from God by them ; and that they do 
not take up too much of our time ; always remember- 
ing that the faculties of the human nature, and the .ad- 
vantages of the christian revelation, were not given us 
in vain j but that we are always to be in pursuit of some 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 175 

great and honorable end, and to indulge ourselves m 
amusements and diversions no farther than as they 
make a pari in a scheme of rational and manly, benevo- 
lent and pious conduct. 

15. (4) For die observation of providences, it will 
be useful tti regard the divine interposition in our com- 
foris and in our afflictions. In our comforts, whether 
more common or more extraordinary ; that we find 
ourselves in continued health; that we are furnished 
with food for our support and pleasure ; that we have 
so many agreeable ways of employing our time ; that 
we have so many agreeable friends, and those so good 
and so happy ; that our business goes on prosperously ; 
that we go out and come in safely ; and that we enjoy 
composure and cheerfulness of spirit, without which 
nothing else could be enjoyed. All these should be 
regarded as providential favors, and due acknowledg- 
ments should be made to God on these accounts, as we / 
pass through such agreeable scenes. On the other 
hand, providence is to be regarded in every disappoint- 
ment, in evRvy loss, in every pain, in every instance of 
un kindness from those who have professed friendship; 
and we should endeavor to argue ourselves into a pa- 
tient submission, from this consideration, that the hand 
of God is always mediately if not immediately in each of 
them ; and that if they are not properly tne work of 
providence, they are at least under his direction. It 
is a reflection, which we should particularly make with 
relation to those little cross accidents, (as we are ready 
to call them) and those infirmities and follies in the 
temper and conduct of our intimate friends, which may 
else be ready to discompose us. And it is the more 
necessary to guard our minds here, as wise and good 
men often lose the command of themselves on these 
comparatively little occasions ; who calling up reason 
and religion to their assistance, stand the shock of 
gre*t calamities with fortitude and resolution. 

18 (5.) For watchfulness against temptations • it % 
necessary, when changing our employment, to reflect, 
u what snares attand me here ?" And as this should be 
our nahitual care, so we should especially guard against 
those snares which in the morning we foresaw, And 



176 JHE RISE AND PROGRESS 

when we are entering on those circumstances in 
which we expected the assault, we should reflect, es- 
pecially if it be a matter of great importance, " Now 
the combat is going to begin ; now God and the bless- 
ed angels are observing what constancy, what fortitude 
there is in my soul ; and how far the divine authority, 
and the remembrance of my own prayers and resolu- 
tions will weigh with me when it comes to the trial." 

17. (6.) As tor dependance on divine grace and in- 
fluence; it must be universal ; and since we always 
need it, we must never forget that necessity, A mo- 
ment spent in humble, fervent breathings after the com- 
munications of the divine assistance may do more good 
than many minutes spent in mere reasonings ; and 
though indeed this should not be neglected, since the 
light of reason is a kind of divine illumination, yet still 
it ought to be pursued in a due sense of our dependance 
on the Father of lights, or where we think ourselves 
wisest , we may become vain in our imaginations. Let us 
therefore always call upon God ; and say, for instance, 
when we j re going to pray, Lord fix my attention ! A- 
wakenmy holy affections and pour out upon me the spirit 
of grace and supplication I When hiking up the Bible, or 
any other good book, Open thou mine eyes that I may be- 
hold wondrous things out of thy law. Enlighten mine 
understanding ! warm my heart ! May good resolu- 
tions be confirmed, and ail the course of my life in a 
preper manner regulated ! When addressing ourselves 
to any worldly business, Lord prosper thou the work of 
mine hands upon me, and give thy blessing to my hon- 
est endeavors ! — When going to any kind of recrea- 
tion, Lord, bless my refreshments ; let me not forget 
thee in them, but still keep thy gfory in view ! When 
coming into company, Lord, may 1 do and get good! 
Let no corrupt communications proceed out of my mouthy 
but that which is good to use of edijying, that it may min- 
ister grace to the hearers ! When entering upon diffi- 
culties, Lord give me that wisdom which is profitable to 
direct t teach me thy way, and lead me in & plain path I 
When encountering with temptations, Let thy strength, 
Q gracious Redeemer, be made perfect in my weakness! 
These instances may illustrate the desigu of this di- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 17? 

rection, though they be far from a complete enumera- 
tion of all the circumstances in which it is to be re- 
garded. 

18. (7.) For the government of our thoughts in 
solitude ; let us accustom ourselves on all occasions, to 
exercise a due command over our thoughts. Let us 
take care of those entanglements of passion, and those 
attachments to any present interest in view, which 
would deprive us of our po»ver over them Let us set 
befjre us some profitable subject of thought ; such as 
the perfections of the blessed God, the love of Christ, 
the value of time, the ceitaiaty and importance of 
death and judgment, i nd of the etern ' l y of happiness 
or misery which is to follow. Let us also at such in- 
tervals, reflect on what we have observed, as to the 
state of our o>v?i souls, with regard to the advance or 
decline of religion ; or on the last sermon we have 
heard, or the last portion of scripture we have read. 
You may, perhaps, in this connection, sir, recollect 
what I have (if [ remember right,) proposed to you ia 
conversation ; that it may be very useful to select 
some one verse of scripture, which we had met with 
in the morning, and to treasure it Up in our mind, re- 
solying to think of that at any time when we are at a 
loss for matter of pious reflection, ia any intervals of 
leisure for entering upon it. This will often be as a 
spring from wbence many profitable and delightful 
thoughts may arise, which perhaps we did not before 
see in that connection and force. Or, if it shouid not 
be so, yet I am persuaded it will be much better to re- 
peat the same scripture in our mind an hundred times 
in a day, with some pious ejaculations formed upon it, 
than to leave our thoughts at the mercy of all those va- 
rious trifles which may otherwise intrude upon us ; the 
variety of which will be far from making amends for 
their vanity. 

#40. (8 ) Lastly, for the government of our discourse 
in company ; we should take care that nothing may 
escape us which can expose us, or our christian profes- 
sion to censure and reproach ; nothing injurious to 
those that are absent, or to those that are present, 
nothing malignant, nothing insincere, nothing which 
may provoke, nothing which may mislead those that 



178 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

are about us. Nor should we by any means be con- 
tent that what we say is innocent; it should be our de- 
sire that it may he edifying* to ourselves and others. In 
this view we should endeavor to have some subject of 
useful discourse always ready, in which we may be as- 
sisted by the hints given about furniture for thought 
under the former head. We should watch for decent 
opportunities of introducing useful reflection ^ and if 
a pious friend attempt to do it, we should endeavor to 
second it immediately. When the conversation does 
not turn direct ty on religious subjects, we should en- 
deavor to make it improving some other way ; we 
should reflect on the character and capacities of our 
company, that we may lead them to talk of what they 
understand best; for their discourses on those subjects 
will probably be most pleasing to themselves, as well 
as most usafial to us. And in pauses ©f discourse it 
may not be improper to lift up an holy ejaculation to 
God, that his grace may assist us and our friends in o-ur 
endeavors to do good to each other; that all we say 
and do may be worthy the character of reasonable 
creatures, and of christians. 

20. [HI] The directions for a religious closing of 
the day, which I shall here mention, are only two. 
Let us see to it, that the secret duties of the evening 
be well performed ; and let us lie down on our beds in 
a pious frame. * 

21. (1.) For secret devotion in the evening I would 
propose a method something different from that in the 
morning; but still, as then, with due allowances for 
circumstances, which may make unthought of altera- 
tions proper. I should, sir, advise to read a portion c.f 
scripture in the first place, with suitable reflections 
and prayers as above ; then to read a hymn or psalm ; 
after this to enter on self examination, to be followed 
by a longer prayer than that which followed reading, 
to be formed on this review of the day. In this ad- 
dress to the throne of grace it will be highly proper 
to entreat that God would pardon the omissions and of- 
fences ot the day ; to praise him for mercies temporal 
and spiritual ; to recommend ourselves fo his protec- 
tion for the ensuing night; with proper petitions for 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 179 

others whom we ought to bear in our hearts before 
him ; and particularly for those friends with whom we 
have conversed or corresponded with the preceding- 
day. Many other concerns will occur, both in the 
irorning and evening prayer., which I have not here 
hinted at; but 1 did not apprenend that a full enumer- 
ation of these things belonged by any means to our 
present purpose 

22. Before I quit this head, I must take the liberty 
to remind you, that self examination is so important a 
duty, that it will be worth our while to spet<d a few 
words upon it. And this branch of it is so easy, that 
when we have proper questions before us, any person 
of a common understanding may hope t© go through 
it with advantage under the divine blessing 1 . I offer 
you, therefore, the following queries, which I hope 
you will, with such alterations as you may judge requi- 
site, keep nenr you for daily use. t; Did I awake, as 
with God this morning, and rise with a grateful sense 
of his goodness ? How were the secret devotions of 
the morning performed? Did I offer my solemn prai- 
ses, and renew the dedication of myself to God, with 
becoming attention and suitable affection? Did I lay 
my scheme for the business of the day wisely and 
well ? How did I read the scripture* and any other de- 
votional or practical piece, which I might afterwards 
conveniently review? Did it do my heart good, or was 
it a mere amusement ? How hath the other stated de- 
votions of the day been attended, whether in the fam- 
ily or in public? Have I pursued the common business 
of this day with diligence and spirituality; doing ev- 
ery thing in season, and with all convenient despatch, 
and as unto the Lord ? What time have I lost this day, 
in the morning or the forenoon, in the afternoon or the 
evening; (for these divisions wHl assist your recollec- 
tion ;) and what has occasioned the loss of it? — With 
what temper, and under what regulations have the 
recreations of this day been pursued ? Have I seen the 
hand of God in my mereies, health, cheerfulness, food, 
clothing, books, preservation in jemmies, success of 
business, conversation and kindness of friends, &c. ? 
Have I seen it in afflictions, and particularly in little 



ISO THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

things which had a tendency to vex and disquiet me ? 
And with regard to this interposition, have 1 received 
mv comforts thankfully, ami my affiicti&os submissively ? 
How bavs I guarded against the temptations oi the 
day, particularly against this or that temptation which 
I foresaw in the morning? Have I maintained an hum- 
ble dependance on divine influences? Havel lived by 
faith on the Son of God, and regarded Christ this day 
as my teacher and governor, my atonement and inter- 
cessor, mv example and guardian, my strength and 
fort runner? Havel been looking forward to' death and 
eternity this day, and considered myself as a probation- 
er for heaven, and through grace an expectant of it? 
Have I governed my thoughts well, especially in such 
and such an interval of solitude ? How was my subject 
©f thought this day chosen, and how was it regarded ? 
Have I governed my discourses well m such and such 
company ? Did I say nothing passionate, mischievous, 
slanderous, imprudent, impertinent ? Has my heart 
this day heen full of love to God, and to all mankind ? 
and have i sought, and found, and improved opportuni- 
ties of doing, and of getting good ? With what atten- 
tion and improvement have I read the scripture this 
evening? How was self examination performed the 
last night ? and how have I profited this day by any 
remarks 1 then made on former negligence and mis- 
takes ? With what temper did I then lie down and 
compose myself t© sleep ?'■ f 

23 You will easily see, sir, that these questions are 
so adjusted as to he an abridgment of the most mate- 
rial advices I have given in this letter; and I believe 
I need not, te a person of your understanding, say any 
thing as to the usefulness of such enquiries. Con- 
science will answer them in a few minutes; but if you 
think them too large and particular, you may make a 
still shorter abstract for daily use, and reserve these 
vtitb such obvious alterations as will then be necessa- 
ry, for seasons of more than ordinary exactness in re- 
view, which I hope will occur at least once a week. 
Secret devotion being thus performed before a drow- 
siness render us unfit for it, the interval between that 
and our going to rest must be conducted by rules men- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. lfc l 

tioned under the next head. And nothing will further 
remain to be considered here, but, 

24. (2.) The sentiments with wJiich we should lie 
down and compose ourselves to sleep. Now, here it 
is obviously suitable to think of the divine goodness in 
adding anofher day, and the mercies of it, to the for- 
mer days and mercies of our life ; to take notice of the 
indulgence of providence in giving us commodious" 
habitations and easy beds, and continuing to us such 
health of body that we can lay ourselves down at ease 
upon them, and such serenity of mind as leaves us any 
room to hope for refreshing sleep ; a refreshment to 
be sought not merely as an indulgence to animal na- 
ture, but as what our wise Creator, in order to keep 
us humble, in the midst of so many infirmities, has been 
pleased to make necessary to our being able to pursue 
his service with renewed alacrity. Thus may our 
sleeping, as well aa our waking hours be, in some sense, 
devoted to God. And when we are just going to re- 
sign ourselves to the image of death, (to what one 
of the ancients beautifully calls its lesser mysteries,) it 
is also evidently proper to think seriously of that end 
of all the living, and to renew those actings of repen- 
tance and faith which we should judge necessary, if we 
were to wake no more here. You have once, sir, seen 
a meditation of that kind in my hand ; I will transcribe 
it for you in the postscript ; and therefore shall add no 
more to this head, but here put a close to the directions 
you desired. 

25. I am persuaded, the most important of them 
have, in one form or another, been long regarded by 
you, and made governing maxims of your life. I shall 
greatly rejoice if the review of these, and the examina- 
tion and trial of the rest, may be the means of leading . 
you into more intimate communion with God, and so of 
rendering your life more pleasant and useful, and your 
eternity, whenever that is to commence, more glori- 
ous. There is not a human creature upon earth whom 

I should not delight to serve in these important intef- 



182 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ests; but I can faithfully assure you, that I am, with par- 
ticular respect, 

t)ear sir, 
Your very affectionate 
Friend and servant. 

26. This, reader, with the alterations of a very few 
words, is the letter I wrote to a worthy friend, (now, I 
doubt not, with God,) about sixteen years ago ; and I 
can assuredly say, that the experience of each of these 
years has confirmed me in these views, and established 
me in the persuasion, that one day thus spent is prefer- 
able to whole years of sensuality and the neglect of re- 
ligion, I chose to insert the letter as it is, because 1 
thought the freedom and particularity of the advice I 
had given in it would appear most natural in its origin- 
al form ; and as I propose t© enforce these advices in 
the next chapter, 1 shall conclude this with the medita- 
tion which 1 promised my friend as a postscript ; and 
which I could wish to make so familiar to yourself, as 
that you might be able to recollect the substance of 
it whenever you compose yourself to sleep. 



A serious view of death proper to be taken as we lie down 
on our beds. 

OH, my soul, look forward a little with seriousness 
and attention and learn wisdom by the consideration of 
thy latter end. Another of thy mortal days is now num- 
bered and finished ; and as I have put off my clotjjes, 
and laid myself upon my bed for the repose of the night, 
so will the day of life quickly come to its period; so 
must the body itself be put off, and laid to its repose in a 
bed of dusL There let it rest ; for it will be no more 
regarded by me than the cl6lhes whieh I have now 
laid aside. I have another far more important concern 
to. attend. Think, O my soul, when death comes, thou 
art to enter upon the eternal world, and to be fixed ei- 
ther in heaven or hell. All the schemes and cares, 
the hopes and fears, the pleasures and sorrows! of life, 
will come to their period, and the world of spirits will 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 183 

open upon thee. And O, how soon may it open'; per- 
haps before the returning sun bring on the light of an- 
other day. Tomorrow's sun may not enlighten mine 
eyes, but only shine round a senseless corpse, which 
may lie in the place of this animated body ; at least the 
death of many in the flower of their age, and many 
who were superior to me in capacity, piety, and the 
prospects of usefulness, may loudly warn me not to de- 
pend on a long life, and engage me rather to wonder 
that I am continued here so many years, than to be sur- 
prised if I am speedily removed. 

And now, O my soul, answer, as in the sight of God, 
art thou ready ? art thou ready ? Is there no sin nnfor- 
saken, and so uurepented of, to fill me with anguish in 
my departing moments, and to make me tremble on the 
brink of eternity? Dread to remain under the guilt of it, 
and this moment renew thy most earnest applications 
to the mercy of God and the blood of the Redeemer, 
for deliverance from it. 

But if the great account be already adjusted, if thou 
hast cordially repented ©f thy numerous offences, if thou 
hast sincerely committed thyself by faith into the hands 
of the blessed Jesus, and hast not renounced thy cove- 
nant with him by returning to the allowed practice of 
sin, then start not at the thoughts of a separation ; it is 
not in the power of death to hurt a soul devoted to 
God, and united to the great Redeemer. It may take 
me from my worldly comforts ; it may disconcert and 
break my schemes for service on earth ; but, O my 
soul, diviner entertainments and nobler services wait 
thee beyond the grave. Fore ver* blessed be the name 
of God, and the love of Jesus, for these quieting, en- 
couraging, joyful views ! I will now lay me down in 
peace, and sleep, tree from the fears of what shall be 
the issue of this night, whether life or death may .be 
appointed for me. Father, into thy hands I commend my 
spirit ; for thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth ; and 
therefore I can cheerfully refer it to thy choice wheth- 
er I shall wake in this world or another. 



194 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XX. 

A SERIOUS PERSUASIVE TO SUCH A METHOD OF SPENDING 
OUR DAYS, AS IS REPRESENTED IN THE FORMER CHAP- 
TER. 

Christians fix their views too low, and indulge too indolent a disposition, 
which makes it the more necessary to urge such a life as that under 
consideration, 1,2. It is therefore enforced, (1.) From its being 
apparently reasonable, considering ourselves as the creatures of God, 
and as ledeemed by the blood of Christ, 3. (2.) From its evident ten- 
dency to conduce to our comfort in life, 4. (3.) ^rom the influence 
it will have to promote our usefulness to others, 5. (4.) From its ef- 
ficacy to make afflictions lighter, 6. (5.) From its happy aspect on 
death, 7. and (6.) On eternity, 8. Whereas not to desire improve- 
ment would argue a soul destitute of religion, 9. A prayer suited to 
the state of a soul who longs to attain the life recommended above. 

1. I HATE been assigning in the preceding chap- 
ter, what I fear will seem to some of my readers so hard 
a task, that they will want courage to attempt it ; and 
in is indeed a life, in many respects, so far above that 
of the generality of christians, that I am not without 
apprehensions that many who deserve the name may 
think the directions, after all the precautions with 
which I have proposed them, are carried to an unne- 
cessary degree of nicety and strictness. But I am per- 
suaded much of the credit and comfort of Christianity 
is lost in consequence of its professors fixing their aims 
too low, and not conceiving of their high and holy 
calling in so elevated and sublime a view as the nature 
of religion would require, and the word of God would 
direct. I am fully convinced, that the expressions of 
walking with God ; of being in the. fear of the Lord all the 
day long ; and above ail, that ©f loving the Lord our God 
with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, must 
require, if not all these circumstances, yet the sub- 
stance of all that I have been recommending, so far as 
we have capacity, leisure, and opportunity ; and I can- 
not but think, that many might command more of the 
latter, and perhaps improve their capacities too, if they 
would take a due care in the improvement of them- 
selves, if they would give up vain and unnecessary di- 
versions, and certain indigencies, which only suit and 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 13* 

delight the lower part of oar nature, and (to say the 
best of them) deprive us of pleasures much better than 
themselves, if they do not plunge us into guilt. Manj 
of these rules would appear easily practicable, if men 
woald learn to know the value of tiuns, and particularly 
to redeem it from unnecessary sleep, which wastes so 
many golden hours of the day; hours ia which many 
of God's servants are delighting themselves in him, and 
drinking in full draughts of the water of life, while 
these their brethren are sluaaberingupon their beds, and 
lost in vain dreams as far below the common entertain- 
ments of a rational creature as the pleasures of the 
sublimest devotion are above them. 

2. I know, likewise, that the mind is very fickle 
and inconstant, and that it is a hard thing to preserve 
such a government and authority over your thoughts 
as would be very desirable, and as the plan I have laid 
down will require. But so much of the honor of God, 
and so much of our own true happiness depends upon 
it, that I beg you will give me a patient and attentive 
hearing while I am pleading with you, and that you 
will seriously exaoaine the argu?nents, and then judge 
whether a care and conduct like that which I have ad- 
vised, be not in itself reasonable ; and whether it will 
not be highly conducive to your comfort and useful- 
ness in life, your peace in death, and the advancement 
and increase of your eternal glory. 

3. Let conscience say, whether such a lite as I have 
described above, be not in itself highly reasonable. 
Look over the substance of it again, and bring it under 
a close examination ; for I am very apprehensive that 
some weak objections may arise against the whole, 
which may, in their consequences, affect particulars, 
against which no reasonable man would presume to 
mark any objection at all. Recollect, O christian, and 
carry it with you in your memory and your heart, 
while you are pursuing this review, that you are the 
creature of God, that you are purchased with the blood 
of Jesus ; and then say whether these relations in which 
you stand do not demand all that application and reso- 
lution which I would engage you to. Suppose all the 
counsels I have giv^n reduced into practice ; suppose 



186 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

every day begun and concluded with such devout 
breathings after God, and such holy retirements for 
morning and evening converse with him and our own 
heart ; suppose a daily care in contriving how your 
time may be managed, and in reflecting how it has been 
employed ; suppose this regard to God, this sense of 
his presence, and zeal for his glory, to run through 
your acts of worship, your hours of business and recrea- 
tion ; suppose this attention to providence, this guard 
against temptations, this dependance upon divine influ- 
ence, this government of the thoughts in solitude, and 
of the discourses in company ; nay, I will add farther, 
and suppose every particular direction given to be pur- 
sued, excepting when particular cases occur, with re- 
spect to which you shall be able in conscience to say, 
" I wave it not from indolence and carelessness, but 
because 1 think it will just now be more pleasing to 
God to be doing something else ; which may often 
happen in human life, where general rules are best con- 
' certed ; suppose, I say, all this to be done, not for a 
day, or a week, but through the remainder of life, 
whether longer or shorter ; and suppose this to be re- 
viewed at the close of life, in the full exercise of your 
rational faculties, will there be reason to say, in the re- 
flection, u I have taken loo much pains in religion; 
the author of my being did not deserve all this from 
me; less diligence, less fidelity, less zeal than this 
might have been equivalent for the blood shed for my 
redemption. A part of my heart, a part of my time, a 
part of my labors might have sufficed for him, who 
hath given me all my powers; for him, who hath de- 
livered me from the destruction which would have 
made them my. everlasting torment ; for him who is 
raising me to the regions of a blessed immortality. 
Can you with any face say this ? If you cannot, then 
surely your conscience bears witness, that all I have 
recommended under the limitations above is reasona- 
ble ; that duty and gratitude require it ; and conse- 
quently that, by every allowed failure in it, you bring' 
guilt upon your own soul, you offend God, and act un- 
worthy your christian profession. 

4. I entreat you farther to consider whether such a 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. im 

conduct as I hare now been recommending would not 
conduce much to your comfort and usefulness in life. 
Reflect seriously what is true happiness. Does it con- 
sist in distance from God, or in nearness to him ! Sure- 
ly you cannot be a christian, surely you cannot be a 
rational man, if you doubt whether communion with 
the great Father of our spirits be a pleasure and felici- 
ty ; and if it be, then surely they enjoy most of it who 
keep him most constantly in view. You cannot but 
know in your own conscience, that it is this which makes 
the happiness of heaven ; and therefore the more of it 
any man enjoys upon earth, the more of heaven comes 
down into his soul. If you have made any trial of re- 
ligion, tlfough it be but a few months or weeks since 
you first became acquainted with it, you must be some 
judge of it upon your own experience, which have been 
the most pleasant days of your life. Have they not 
been those in which you have acted most upon these 
principles : those in which you have most steadily and 
resolutely carried them through every hour of time, 
and every circumstance of life ? The check which you 
must, in many instances, give to your own inclinations 
might seem disagreeable ; but it would surely be over- 
balanced in a most happy manner by the satisfaction 
you would find in a consciousness of self government; 
in having such a command of your thoughts, affections 
and actions, as is much more glorious than any author- 
ity over others can be. 

5. I would also entreat you to consider the influence 
which such a conduct might have upon the happiness 
of others. And it is easy to be seen it must be very 
great; as you would find your heart always disposed 
to watch every opportunity of doing good, and to seize 
it with eagerness and delight. It would engage you 
to make it the study and business of your life to order 
things in such a manner, that the end of one kind and 
useful accion might be the beginning of another ; in 
which you would go on as naturally as the inferior an- 
imals do in those productions and actions by which man- 
kind are relieved or enriched ; or as the earth bears 
her successive crops of different vegetable supplies. 
And though mankind be, in this corrupt state, so unhap- 



188 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

pily inclined to imitate evil examples rather than good ; 
yet it may be expected, that while your light shines 
before men, some seeing your good works will endeav- 
or to transcribe them in their own lives, and so to glo- 
rify ymir Father who is in heaven. The charms of 
such beautiful models would surely impress some, and 
incline them at least to attempt an imitation | and eve* 
ry attempt would dispose to another. And thus, through 
the divine goodness, you might be entitled to a share 
in the praise, and the reward, not ©nly of the good you 
had immediately done yourself, but likewise of that 
which you had engaged others to do. And no eye but 
that of an all searching God can see into what distant 
times or places a the blessed consequences may reach. 
In every instance in which these consequences appear, 
it will put a generous and sublime joy into your heart, 
which no worldly prosperity could afford, and which 
would be the liveliest emblem of that high delight which 
the blessed God feels, in seeing and making his crea- 
tures happy. 

6. It is true indeed, that amidst all these pious and 
benevolent cares, afflictions may come, and in some 
measure interrupt you in the midst of your projected 
schemes* But surely these afflictions will sit much 
lighter when your heart is gladdened with the peace- 
ful and joyful reflections of your own mind, and with 
so honorable a testimony of conscience before God and 
man. Delightful will it be to go back to past scenes 
in your pleasing review, and to think that you have 
not only been sincerely bumbling yourself for those 
past offences, which afflictions may bring to your re- 
membrance : but that you have given substantial proofs 
of the sincerity of that humiliation, by a real reforma- 
tion of what has been amiss, and by acting with strenu- 
ous and vigorous reselution on the contrary principle. 
And while converse with God, and doing good to men, 
are made the great business and pleasure of life, you 
will find a thousand opportunities of eBJoyment, even 
in the midst of those afflictions, which would render 
you so incapapleof relishing the pleasures of sense, 
that the mention of them might, in those eircumsjan- 
res, seem an insult and repro^cU. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. m 

7. At length death will come ; that solemn and im- 
portant hour, which hath been passed through by so 
many thousands who have in the main lived such a life, 
and by so many millions who have neglected it. And 
let conscience say, if there was ever one of all these 
millions who had then any reason to rejoice in that neg- 
lect; or any one among the most strict and exemplary 
christians, who then lamented that his heart and life 
had been too zealously devoted to God ? Let conscience 
say, whether they have wished to have a part of that 
time, which they have thus employed, given back to 
them again, that they might be more conformed to this 
world: that they might plunge themselves deeper into 
amusements, or pursue its honors, its possessions, or its 
pleasures, with greater eagerness than they had done ? 
If you were yourself dying, and a dear friend or child 
stood near you, and this book, and the last chapter of 
it should chance to come into your thoughts, would 
you caution that friend or child against conducting him- 
self by such rules as I have advanced? The question 
may perhaps seem unnecessary, where the answer is 
so plain and so certain. Well then, let me beseech 
you to learn how you should live, by reflecting how 
you would die, and what course you would wish to look 
back upon, when you are just quitting this world, and 
entering upon another. Think seriously, what if death 
should serprize you on a sudden, and you should be 
called into eternity at an hour's or a minute's warning; 
would you not wish that your last day should have 
been thus begun, and the course of it, if it were a day 
of health and activity, should have been thus managed ! 
Would you not wish that your Lord should find you 
engaged in such thoughts, and in such pursuits ? Would 
not the passage, the flight from earth to heaven, be 
most easy, most pleasant, in this view and connection ? 
And, on the other hand, if death should make more 
gradual approaches, would not the remembrance of 
such a pious, holy, humble, diligent, and useful life, 
make a dying bed much softer and easier, than it would 
otherwise be ? You would not die depending upon 
these things ; God forbid that you should ! Sensible of 
your many imperfections, yon would, no doubt, desire 



190 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to throw yourself at the feet of Christ, that you might 
appear before God adorned with his righteousness, and 
washed from your eins in his blood. Tou would also, 
with your dying breath, ascribe to the riches of hie 
grace, every good disposition you had found in your 
heart, and every worthy action you had been enabled 
to perform ; but would it not give you a delight wor- 
thy of being purchased with ten thousand worlds,, to 
reflect, that his grace bestowed on you had not been in 
vain; but that you had, from an humble principle of 
grateful love, glorified your heavenly Father on earth, 
and, in som6 degree, though not with the perfection 
you could desire, finished the work which he had given 
you to do ; that you had not been living for many years 
past on c borders of heaven, and endeavoring to form 
your heart and life to the temper and manners of its 
inhabitants ? 

8. And, once more let me entreat you to reflect on 
the view you will have of this matter when you come 
into a world of glory, if (which I hope will be the hap- 
py case) divine mercy conduct you thither. Will not 
your reception there be affected by your care, or neg- 
ligence, in this holy course ? Will it appear an indiffer- 
ent thing in the eye of the blessed Jesus, who distributes 
the crowns, and allots the thrones there, whether you 
have been among the most zealous, or the most indolent 
of his servants ? Surely you must wish to have an en« 
trdnce administered unto you abundantly into the kingdom 
of your Lord and Saviour ; and what can more certain- 
ly conduce to it, than to be always abounding in his 
work? You cannot think so meanly of that glorious 
state as to imagine that you shall there look round 
about with a secret disappointment, and say in your 
heart, that you overvalued the inheritance you have 
received, and pursued it with too much earnestness. 
You will not surely complain that it had too many 
of your thoughts and cares ; but, on the contrary, you 
have the highest reason to believe, that if any thing 
were capable of exciting your indignation and your 
grief there, it would be, that amidst so many motives 
and so many advantages, you exerted yourself no mora 
in the prosecution of such a prize. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, m 

9. But \ will not enlarge on so clear a case, and 
therefore conclude the chapter with reminding yeu, 
that to allow yourself deliberately to sit down satisfied 
with any imperfect attainments in religion, and to look 
upon a more confirmed and improved state of it as what 
you do not desire, nay, as what you secretly resolve 
that you will not pursue, is one of the most fa*al signs 
we can well imagine that you are an entire stranger to 
the first principles of it. 



JL prayer suited to the state of the soul , who desires to at- 
tain the life recommended above. 

BLESSED God, I cannot contradict the force of 
these reasonings; O that I might feel more than ever 
the lasting effects of them ! Thou art the great foun- 
tain of being and happiness ; attd as from thee my be- 
ing was derived, so from thee my happiness directly 
flows ; and the nearer 1 am unto thee, the purer and 
the more delieious is the stream. With thee is thefoun* 
tain of life j in thy light may I see light ! The great ob- 
ject oi my final hope is to dwell for ever with thee ; 
give me now some foretaste of that delight ! Give me, 
I beseech thee, to experience the blessedness of that man 
whofeartth the Lord, and who ddighteth greatly in his 
commandments, and so form my heart by thy grace, 
that I may be in the fear of the Lord all the day long ! 

To thee may my awakening thoughts fee directed, 
and with the first ray of light that visits mine opening 
eyes, lift up, O Lord, the light of thy countenance upon 
me! When my faculties are roused from that broken 
state in which they lay, while buried, and as it were 
annihilated in sleep, may my first actions be consecra- 
ted to thee, O God a who givest me light ; who givest 
me, as it were, every morning a new life and new rea- 
son ! Enable my heart to pour itself out before thee 
with a filial reverence, freedom, and endearment ! 
And may I hearken to God, as I desire that he should 
hearken unto me ! May thy word be read with at- 
tention and pleasure ! May my soul be delivered int© 



m THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

the mould of it; and may I hide it in mine heart, that 1 
may not sin against thee ! Animated by the great mo- 
tives there suggested, may 1 every morning be renew* 
ing the dedication of myself to thee, through Jesus 
Christ thy beloved Son ! and be deriving from him new 
supplies ©fthat blessed Spirit of thine, whose influences 
are the life of my soul ! 

And being thus prepared, do thou, Lord, lead me 
forth by the hand to all the duties and events of the 
day ! In that calling, wheren thou hast been pleased to 
call me, may I abide with thee ; not being slothful in bu- 
siness, but fervent in spirit* serving the Lord /- May I 
know the value of time, and always improve it to the 
best advantage, in such duties tos thou hast assigned me, 
how low soevever they may be ! To thy glory, O Lord, 
may the labors of life be pursued ; and to thy glory 
may the refreshments of it be sought ! Whether I eat 
or drink, or whatever Ido^ may that end still be kept in 
view, and may it be attained ! And may every refresh- 
ment and release from business prepare me to serve 
thee with greater vigor and resolution ! 

May mine eye be watchful to observe the descent of 
mercies from thee ; and may a grateful sense of thine 
hand in them add a savor and a relish to all ! And when 
afflictions come, which m a world like this I would ac- 
custom myself to expect, may I remember that they 
come from thee ; and may that fully reconcile me to 
them, while I firmly believe, that the same love which 
gives us our daily bread, appoints us our daily crosses ; 
which I would learn to take up, thait I may follow my 
dear Lord with a temper like that which he manifested 
when ascending Calvary for my sake ; saying like 
him, the cup which my Father hath given me shall I not 
drink it ! And when I enter into temptation, do thou, 
Lord, deliver me from evil ! Make me sensible, I entreat 
thee, of my own weakness, that my heart may be raised 
to thee for present communications of proportionable 
strength ! When I am engaged in the society of others, 
may it be my desire and my care that I may do, and re- 
ceive, as much good as possible, and may I continually 
answer the great purposes of life, by honoring thee, 
and diffusing useful knowledge and happiness in the 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL- 1 93 

World ! and when J am alone, may I remember my heav- 
enly Father is with me ; and may I enjoy the pleasure 
of thy presence, and feel the animating power of it, 
awakening my mind to an earnest desire to think, and 
act as in thy sight ?, 

Thus let my days be spent ; and let them always be 
clothed in thy fear, and under a sense of thy gracious 
presence ! Meet me, O Lord, in mine evening retire- 
ments ! may I choose the most proper time for them ; 
ma J I diligently attend to reading and prayer ; and 
when I review my conduct, may I do it with an impar- 
tial eye ? Let not self-lore spread a false colouring 
over it ; but may I judge myself, as one that expects 
to be judged of the Lord, and is very solicitous he may 
be approved by thee who searchest all hearts, and canst 
not forget any of my works J Let my prayer Come daily 
before thee as incense, and let the lifting up af my hands 
be as (he morning and evening sacrifice I May 1 resign 
my powers to sleep in sweet calmness and serenity; 
conscious that I have lived to God in the day, and cheer- 
fully persuaded that I am accepted of thee in Christ 
Jesus my Lord, and humbly hoping in thy mercy 
through him, whether my days on earth be prolonged, 
or the residue of them be cut off in the midst ! If death 
comes by a leisurely advance, may it iind me thus em- 
ployed ; and if I am called on a sudden to exchange 
worlds, may my last days and hours be found to have 
been conducted by such maxims as these ; and may I 
have a sweet and easy passage from the services of 
time to the infinitely nobler services of an immortal 
state ! I ask it through him who, while on earth, was 
the fairest pattern and example of every virtue and 
grace, and who how lives and reigns with thee, able to 
save to the uttermost ; to him, having done all, I would 
fly, with humble acknowledgment, that I am an unprof- 
itable servant ^ to him be glory forever and ever. Affiesu 



194 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XXI. 

A CAUTION AGAINST VARIOUS TEMPTATIONS, BY WHICH 
THE YOUNG CONVERT MAY BE DRAWN ASIDE FROM 
THE COURSE RECOMMENDED ABOVE. 

Dangers continue af'.erthe first difficulties (considered chap, xvii.) are 
broken through, 1. Particular cautions (1.) Against a sluggish and 
indolent temper, 2. Against the excessive love of sensitive pleasure, 
3. Leading to a neglect of business, and needless expense, 4. (3.)^ 
Against the snares of vain company, 5. (4.) Against excessive hur-' 
ries of worldly business, 6. which is enforced by the fatal consequen- 
ces these have had in ran ny cases, 7. The chapter concludes with 
an exhortation to die to this world and live to another, 8 ; and the 
young convert's prayer for divine protection against the dangers 
arising from those snares. -— 

1. THE representation I have been making- of the 
advantage of a life spent in devotedness to God, and 
communion with him, as I have described it above, will 
I hope, engage you, my dear reader, to form some pur- 
poses, and make some attempt to obtain it. But from 
considering the nature, and observing the course of 
things, it appears exceedingly evident, that, besides the 
general opposition, which I formerly mentioned, as 
like to attend you in your first entrance on a religious 
life, you will find, even after yeu have resolutely broke 
through this, a variety of hindrances in any attempts of 
exemplary piety, and in the prosecution of a remarka- 
bly strict and edifying course, will present themselves 
daily in your path. And whereas you may, by a few 
resolute efforts, baffle some of the former sort of ene- 
mies, these will be perpetually renewing their onsets, 
and a vigorous struggle must be continually maintained 
with them. Give me leave now, therefore, to be par- 
ticular in my cautions against some of the chief of them. 
And here 1 would insist up^n the difficulties which will 
arise from indolence and the love of pleasure, from vain 
compaay, and from worldly cares. Each of these may 
prove ensnaring to any, and especially to young per- 
sons, to whom I would now have some particular regard. 

2. I entreat you, therefore, in the first place, that 
you would guard against a sluggish and indolent temper. 
The love ©f ease insinuates itself into the heart, ur- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 19£ 

der a variety of plausible pretences, which are often 
allowed to pass, when temptations of a great nature 
would not be admitted. The misspending a little time 
seems to wise and good men bat a small matter ; yet 
this sometimes runs them into great inconveniencies. 
It often leads them to break in upon the seasons regu- 
larly allotted to devotion, and to defer business which 
might immediately be done, but being put off from day 
to day, is not done ^t all; and therefore the services of 
life are at least diminished, and the rewards of eternity 
diminished proportionably ; not to insist upon it, that 
very frequently lays the soul open to further tempta- 
tions, by which it fails, in consequence of being found 
unemployed. Be, therefore, suspicious of the first ap- 
proaches of this kind. Remember, that the soul of 
man is an active being, and that it must find its pleasure 
in activity. Gird up, therefore, the loins of your mind. 
Endeavor to keep yourself always well employed. Be 
exact, if I may with humble reverence use the expres- 
sion, in your appointments with God. Meet him ear- 
ly in the morning ; and say not with the sluggard, when 
the proper hour of rising is come, A little more sleep, a 
little more slumber. That time which prudence shall 
advise you, give to conversation, and to other recrea- 
tions ; but when that is elapsed, and no unforeseen and 
important engagements present, rise and be gone. Quit 
the company of your dearest friends and retire to your 
proper business, whether it be in the field, the shop or 
the closet : for, by acting contrary to the secret dic- 
tates of your mind, as,to what it is just at the present 
moment best to do, though it be but in the manner of 
spending half an hour, some degree of guilt is contract- 
ed, and ahabiUs cherished, which may draw after it 
much worse consequences. Consider, therefore, what 
duties are to b« dispatched, and in what seasons. Form 
your plan as prudently as you can, and pursue it reso- 
lutely: Unless any unexpected incident arises, which 
leads you to conclude that duty calls you another way. 
Allowances for such untheught of interruptions must 
be made ; but if in consequence of this, you are obliged 
to omit any thing of importance which you propose to 
have done to day ; do it if possible to morrow : and do 



196 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

not cut yourself out new work till the former plan be 
dispatched ; unless you really judge it not merely more 
amusing, but more important. And always remember, 
that a servant of Christ should see to it that he deter- 
mine on these occasions as in his master's presence. 

3. Guard also against an excessive love of sensitive 
and animal pleasure, as that which will be a great hin- 
drance to you in that religious course which I have 
now been urging. You ctmnot but know that Christ 
has told us, that a man must deny himself, and take up his 
cross daily, if he desires to become his disciple. Christ 
the Son of God, the former, and the heir of all things, 
pleased not himself; but submitted to want, to difficul- 
ties, and to hardships, in the way of duty, and some of 
(Jiem in the extremest kind and degree, for the glory 
of God, and the salvation of men. In this way we are 
to follow him ; and as we know not how soon we may 
be called even to resist unto blood, striving against sin, 
it is certainly best to accustom ourselves to that disci- 
pline which we may possibly be called out to exercise, 
even in such rigorous heights. A soft and delicate 
life will give force to temptations, which might easily 
be subdued by one who has habituated himself to endure 
hardships as a soldier of Jesus Christ. It also produces 
an attachment to this world, and an unwillingness to 
leave it ; which ill becomes those who are strangers 
an* pilgrims on earth, and who expect so soon to be 
called away to that better country which they profess 
to seek. Add to this, that what the world calls a life of 
pleasure, is necessarily a life of expence too, and may 
perhaps, lead you, as it hath done many others, and 
especially many who have been setting out in the 
world, beyond the limits which providence has assign- ■ 
ed . ; and so, after a short course of indigencies, may 
produce proportionable want. And while in other ca- 
ses it is true, that pity should be shown to the poor, 
this is poverty that is justly contemptible, because it 
is the effect of a man's own folly; and when your want 
thus comes upon you as an armed man, you will not only 
find yourself stripped of the capacity you might other- 
wise have secured for performing those works of chari- 
ty, which are so ornamental to a christian profession. 



OF RELIGION IrT THE SOUL. 197 

but, probably, will be under some strong temptations 
to some low artifice, or mean compliance quite beneath 
t\\e christian character, and that of an upright man. 
Many who once made a high profession, after a series 
of such sorry and scandalous shifts, have" fallen into the 
infamy of bankrupts, and of the worst kind of bank- 
rupts; I mean such as have lavished away on them- 
selves what was indeed the property of others, and so 
have injured, and perhaps ruined, the industrious, to 
feed a foolish luxuriant, or ostentatious honor, which 
while indulged, was the shame of their own families, 
and, when it can be indulged no longer, is their tor- 
ment. This will be a terrible reproach to religion ! 
such a reproach to it, that a good man would rather 
choose to live on bread and water, or indeed to die for 
want of them, than occasion it. 

4. Guard, therefore, I beseech you, against any thing 
which might tend that way, especially by diligence in 
business, and by prudence and frugality in expence ; 
which by the divine blessing, may have a very happy 
influence to make your affairs prosperous, your health 
vigorous, and your mind easy. But this cannot be at- 
tained without keeping a resolute watch over yourself, 
and strenuously refusing to comply with many propo- 
sals which indolence or sensuality will offer in very 
plausible forms, and for which it will plead that it asks 
hut very little. Take heed, lest in this respect you im- 
itate those fond parents, who by indulging their child- 
ren in every little thing they have a mind to, encour- 
age them, by insensible degree , to grow still more en- 
croaching and imperious in their demands ; as if they 
chose to be ruined by them, rather than to check them 
in what seems a trifle. Remember and consider that 
excellent remark, sealed by the ruin of so many thou* 
sands; " He that tlespiseth small things, shall fall by 
little and little. 55 

5. In this vieiv, give me leave also seriously and ten- 
derly to cautionyou, my dear reader, against the snares 
of vain company. I speak not, as before, of that com 
pany, which is openly licentious and profane. I hope 
there is something now in your temper and views which 
would engage you to turn away from such with detesta- 



198 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

tion and horror. But I beseech you to consider, that 
those companions may he very dangerous who might at 
first give you but very little alarm ; 1 mean those who, 
though not the declared enemies of religion, and pro- 
fessed followers of vice and disorder, yet neveitheless 
have no practical sense of divine things on their hearts, 
solar as can be judged by their conversation and be- 
haviour. You must often of necessity be with such per- 
sons, and Christianity not only allows, but requires, that 
you should, on all expedient occasions of intercourse 
with them, tr^at them with civility and respect ; but 
chqo&e n ■■« such for your most intimate friends, and 
do not contrive to spend most of your leisure moments 
among" them. For such converse has a sensible ten- 
dency to alienate the soul from God, and to render it 
unfit for ail spiritual communion with him. To con- 
vince you of this, do but reflect on your own experience, 
when you have been for many hours together among 
persons of such a character Do you not find yourself 
more indisposed for devotional exercises ? Do you not 
find your heart, by insensible degrees, rr ore and more 
inclined to a conformity to this world, and to look with 
a secret disrelish on those objects and employments to 
which reason directs, as the noblest and the best? Ob- 
serve the first symptoms and guard against the snare 
in time ; and, f >r this purpose* endeavor to form friend- 
ships founded in piety, and supported by it. Be a 
companion of them that fear God, and of them that keep 
his precepts. You well know, that in the sight of God 
they are the excellent of the earth ; let them therefore, he 
your delight. And that the peculiar benefit of their 
friendship may not be lost, endeavor to make the best 
of the hours you spend with them. The wisest of men 
has observed, that when u council in the heart of a 
man is like deep waters," that is, when it lies low and 
concealed, a man of understanding will draw it out. — 
Endeavor* therefore, on such occasions, so far as you 
c x an do it with decency and convenience, to give the 
conversation a religious turn. And when serious and 
useful subjects are starred in your presence, lay hold 
on them and cultivate them j and for that purpose, let 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 1 99 

the word of Christ dwell richly in you, and be continually 
made the man of your council, 

6. If it be so, it will secure you, not only from the 
snares of idleness and luxury, but from the contagion 
of every bad example. And it will also engage you to 
guard against those excessive hurries of worldly busi- 
ness, which would fill up all your time and thoughts, 
and thereby choke the good word of God, and render it 
in a great measure, if not quite, unfruitful. Young 
people are generally of an enterprising disposition ; 
having experienced comparatively little of the fatigue 
of business and of the disappointments and incumbran- 
ces of life, they easily swallow them up, and annihilate 
them in their imagination, and fancy that their spirit, 
their application and address, will be able to encounter 
and surmount every obstacle or hindrance. But the 
event proves it otherwise. Let me entreat you, there- 
fore, to be cautious how you plunge yourself into a 
greater variety of business than you are capable of 
managing as you ought, that is, in consistence with the 
care of your soul, and the service of God ; which cer- 
tainly ought not, on any pretence, to be neglected It 
is true indeed, that a prudent regard to your worldly 
interest would require such a caution; as is obvious to 
every careful observer, that multitudes are undone by 
grasping at more than they can conveniently manage 
— Hence it has frequently been seen, that while they 
have seemed resolved to be rich, they have pierced them' 
selves through with many sorrows, have ruined their 
©wn families, and drawn down many others into desola- 
tion with them ; whereas, could they have heen con- 
tented with moderate employments, and moderate gains, 
they might have prospered in theii* business, and might, 
hy sure degrees, under a divine blessing, have advan- 
ced to a great and honorable increase. But if there were 
no danger at all to be apprehended on this head ; if you 
were as certain of becoming rich and great as you are 
of perplexing and fatiguing yourself in the attempt ; 
consider, I beseech you, how precarious these enjoy- 
ments are. Consider how often a plentiful table be* 
comes a snare, and that which should have beenjor a man's 
welfare becomes a trap. Forget not that short lesson, 



200 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

which is so comprehensive ©f the highest wisdom, one 
thing is needful. Be daily thinking, wnile the gay and 
great things of life are glittering hefore your eyes, how 
death will come and impoverish you at once : how soon 
soon it will strip you of all the possessions but those 
which a naked soul can carry along with it into eterni- 
ty when it drops the body into the grave. Eternity ! 
Eternity ! Eternity ! Carry the view of it about with 
you, if it be possible, through every hour of waking life; 
and fully persuaded that you have no business, no in- 
terest in life, that is consistent with it ; for whatsoever 
would be injurious to this view, is not your business, 
is not your interest. You see, indeed, that the gener- 
ality of men act as if they thought the great thing which 
God requires of them, »n order to secure bis favor, was 
to get as much of the world as possible; at least as 
much as they can without any gross immorality, and 
without risking the loss of all, for making a little addi- 
tion. And as if it were to abet this design, they tell 
others, and perhaps tell themselves, they only seek op- 
portunities of greater usefulness, but in effect, if they 
mean any thing more by this than a capacity of useful- 
ness, which, when they have it, they will not exert, 
they generally deceive themselves ; and one way or 
another, it is a vain pretence. In most instances men 
seek the world — either that they may hoard up riches 
for the mean and scandalous satisfaction of looking up- 
on them while they are living, and of thinking, that 
when they are dead, it will be said of them, that they 
have left so many hundreds or thousands of pounds be- 
hind them ; very probably to ensnare their children or 
other heirs, (for the vanity is not peculiar to those who 
have children of their own ;) — or else, that they may 
lavish away their riches on their lusts, and drown them • 
selves in a gulph of sensuality, in which, if reason be 
not lost, religion is soon swallowed up, and, with it, all 
the noblest pleasures which can enter into the heart of 
man. In this view, the generality of rich people appear 
to me objects of much greater compassion than the 
poor ; especially as when both live (which is frequently 
the ease) without any fear of God before their eyef, 
the rich abuse the greatervariety and abundance of his 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 201 

favor, and therefore will probably feel, in that world 
of future ruin which awaits impenitent sinners, a more 
exquisite sense of their misery. 

7. And let me observe to you, my dear reader, lest 
you should think yourself secure from any such dan- 
ger, that we have great reason to apprehend there are 
many now in a very wretched state, who once thought 
seriously of religion when they were first setting out, 
in lower circumstances of life, but they have since for- 
saken God for Mammon, and are now priding them- 
selves in those golden chains, whiGh, in all probability, 
before it be long, will leave them to remain in those 
of darkness. When, therefore, an attachment to the 
world may be followed with such fatal consequences, 
let net thine heart envy sinners ; and do not out of a de- 
sire of gaining what they have, be guilty of such folly 
as to expose yourself to this double danger of falling in 
the attempt, or of being undone by the success of it. 
Contract your desire ; endeavor to be easy and content 
with a little ; and if Providence call you out to act in a 
larger sphere, submit to it in obedience to Providence ; 
but number it among the trials of life, which it will re- 
quire a large proportion of grace to bear well, For, 
be assured, that as affairs and interests multiply, cares 
and duties will certainly increase, and probably disap- 
pointments and sorrows will increase in an equal pro- 
portion. 

8 On the whole, learn, by divine grace, to die to 
the present world ; look upon it as a low state of be- 
ing, which God never intended for the final and com- 
plete happiness, or a supreme care, of any one of his 
children ; a world, where something is indeed to be 
enjoyed, but chiefly from himself; where a great deal 
is to be borne with patience and resignation ; and 
where some important duties are to be performed, and 
a course of discipline to be passed through, by which 
you are to be formed for a better state ? to which, as a 
christian, you are near, and to which God will call you, 
perhaps on a sudden, but undoubtedly, if you hold on 
your way, in the fittest time and the most convenient 
manner. Refer, therefore, all this to him Let your 
hopes and fears, your expectations and desires, with 



$02 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

regard to this world, he kept as low as possible ; and 
all jour thoughts be united, as much as may be, in this 
one centre, what is it that God would, in present cir- 
cumstances, have you to be ; and what is that method 
of conduct by which you may most effectually please 
and glorify him ? 



The young Convert** prayer for divine protection against 
the danger of those snares. 

BLESSED God ! in the midst often thousand snares 
and dangers which surround me from without and from 
within, pe?mit me to look up unto thee with my hum- 
ble entreaty, that thou wouldst deliver me from those 
that rise up against me, and that thine eyes may he upon 
me for good. When sloth and indolence are ready to 
seize me, awaken me from that idle dream with lively 
and affectionate views of that invisible and eternal 
world to which I am tending ! Remind me of what infi- 
nite importance it is, that I diligently improve those 
transient moments which thou hast allotted to me as the 
time of my preparation for it ! 

When sinners entice me, may I not consent ! May htly 
converse with God give me a disrelish for the converse 
of those who are strangers to thee, and who separate 
my soul from thee ! May J honor them that fear the 
Lord; and walking with such wise and holy men, may 
I find I am daily advancing in wisdom and holiness! 
(Quicken me, O Lord, by their means ; that by me thou 
mayest also quicken others ! Make me the happy in- 
strument of enkindling the flame of divine love in their 
breasts ; and may it catch from heart to heart, and 
grow every moment in its progress ! 

Guard me, O Lord, from the love of sensual pleas- 
ure ! May 1 seriously remember, that to he carnally 
minded is death ! May it please thee, therefore, to puri- 
fy and refine my soul by the influences of thine holy 
spirit, that I may always shun unlawful gratifications 
more solicitously than others pursue them ; and that 
those indulgencies of animal nature, which thou hast 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. £03 

allowed, and which the constitution of things renders 
necessary, may be soberly and moderately used ! May 
I stiVi remember the superior dignity of my spiritual 
and intelligent nature, and may the pleasures of th^ mari 
and the christian be sought as my noblest happiness ! 
May my sou! rise on the wings of holy contemplation, 
to the regions of invisible glory ; and may I be endeav- 
oring* to form myself, under tne influences of divine 
grace, for the efitertaipmetiits 0/ those angelic spirits, 
that lire in thy pretence in a happy inc opacity of those 
gross delights by which spirits dwelling in flesh are so 
often ensnared, and in which they so often lose the 
memory of their high original, and of those noble hopes 
which alone ar^e proportionable to it ! 

G ve me, O Lord, to know the station in which thou 
hast fixed me, and steadily to pursue the duties of it ! 
But deliver me from those excessive cares of this world, 
which would 30 engross my time and my thoughts, that 
the one thing needful should be forgotten ! May my de- 
sires after worldly possessions be moderated, by con- 
sidering their uncertain, unsatisfying nature ; and while 
others are laying up treasures on earth, may 1 be rich 
towards God ! May I never be too busy to attend to 
those great affairs which lie between thee and my soul; 
never so engrossed with the concerns of time, as io 
neglect the interests of eternity ! May I pass through 
earth with my heart and hope set upon heaven, and feel 
the attractive influence stronger and stronger, as 1 ap- 
proach still nearer and nearer to that desirable centre ; 
till the happy moment come, when every earthly ob- 
ject shall disappear from my view, and the shining glo- 
mes of the heavenly world shall fill my improved and 
strengthened sight, which shall then be cheered with 
that which would now overwhelm me I Amen, 



£04 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



CHAP. XXII. 

THE CASE OF A SPIRITUAL DECAY AND LANGUOR IN 
RELIGION. 

Declension in religion, and relapses into sin, with their sorrowful con- 
sequences, are, in the general) too probable, I. r £he ease of declen- 
sion and languor ^n religion described negatively, 2. and positively, 

3, as discovering itself. (1.) By a failure in the duties in the closet, 

4. (2.) By a neglect of social worshfpy 5. (2.) By want of love to 
our fellow-chrk tians, 6. (4.) By an undue attachment to sensual 
pleasures, or secular cares, 7. (5.) By prejudices against some im- 
portant principles in religion, 8. a symptom peculiarly sad and dan- 
gerous, 9, 10. Directions lor recovery, 11, immediately to be pursued, 
12. A prayer for one under spiritual deca} s« 

IF I am so happy as to prevail upon you in the ex- 
hortations and cautions I have given, you will probably 
go on with pleasure and comfort in religion ; and your 
path will generally be like the morning light, which 
shineth more and more until the perfect day. Yet I dare 
not flatter myself with an expectation of such success as 
shall carry you above those varieties in temper, conduct 
and state which have been more or less the complaint 
of the best of men. Much do 1 fear that, how warmly 
soever your heart may be now impressed with the rep- 
resentation I have been making, though the great ob- 
jects of your faith and hope continue unchangeable, 
your temper towards them will be changed. Much do 
I fear that you will feel your mind languish and tire in 
the good ways of God 1 Nay, that you may be prevailed 
upon to take some step out of them, and may thus fall 
a prey to some of those temptations which you now look 
upon with a holy scorn* The probable consequence of 
this will be, that God will hide his face from you ; that 
he will stretch forth his afflicting hand against you;, 
and that you will still see your sorrowful moments, how 
cheerful soever you may now be rejoicing in the hord % 
and joying in the God of your sahation. 1 hope, there- 
fore, it may be of some service, if this too probable 
event should happen, to consider these cases a little 
more particularly ; and 1 heartily pray that God would 
make what I shall say concerning them the means of 
restoring, comforting, and strengthening your soul, if 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 205 

he ever suffers you in any degree to deviate from him. 

2. We will first consider the case of spiritual declen- 
sions and languor in religion. And here I desire, that, 
before I proceed any farther you would observe, that 
I do not comprehend under this head, every abatement 
of that fervor which a young convert may find when 
he fiist becomes experimentally acquainted with divine 
things. Our natures are so framed, that the novelty of 
objects strikes them in something of a peculiar manner; 
not to urge how much more easily our passions are 
impressed in the earlier years of life, than when we 
are more advanced in the journey of it. This, per- 
haps, is not sufficiently considered. Too great a stress 
is commonly laid on the flow of affections ; and for 
want of this, a christian who is ripened in grace, 
and greatly advanced in his preparations for glory, 
may sometimes be ready to lament imaginary rather 
than real decays, and to say, without any just founda- 
tion, O that it were with me as in months past. There- 
fore you can hardly be too frequently told, that reli- 
gion consists chiefly " in the resolution of the will for 
God, and in a constant care to avoid whatever we are 
persuaded he would disapprove, to dispatch the work 
he has assigned us in life, and to promote his glory in 
the happiness of mankind." To this we are chiefly to 
attend, looking in all to the simplicity and purity of 
those motives from which we act, which we know are 
chiefly regarded by that God who searches the heart ; 
humbling ourselves before him at the same time under 
a sense of our many imperfections, and flying to the 
blood of Christ and the grace of the gospel. 

3. Having given this precaution, I will n©w a little 
more particularly describe the case which I call the 
state of a christian who is declining in religion, so far 
as it does not fall in with those which I shall consider 
in the following chapters. And I must observe, that 
it chiefly consists in a forgetfulness of divine objects, 
and a remissness in those various duties to which we 
stand engaged by that solemn surrender which we have 
made of ourselves to the service of God. There will 
be a variety of symptoms, according to the different 
circumstances and relations in which the christian is 

S 



206 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

placed ; but some will be of a more universal kind, ft 
will be peculiarly proper to touch on these ; , and so 
much the rather as these declensions are often unob- 
served, like the grey hairs which were upon Ephraim 
when he knew it not. 

4. Should you, my good reader, fall into this state, 
it will probably first discover itself by a failure in the 
duties of the closet Not that 1 suppose that they will 
at first, or certainly conclude that they will at all, be 
wholly omitted, but that they will be run over in a cold 
and formal manner. Sloth, or some of those other 
snares which I cautioned you against in the former 
chapter, will so far prevail upon you, that though per- 
haps you know and recollect that the proper season for 
retirement is come, you will sometimes indulge your- 
self upon your bed in the morning, sometimes in con- 
versation or business in the evening, so as not to have 
convenient time for it ; or perhaps, when you come 
into your closet at that season, some favorite book you 
are desirous to read, some correspondence that you 
choose to carry on, or some other amusementfwill pre- 
sent itself, and plead to be dispatched first. This will 
probably take up more time than you imagine ; and 
then secret prayer will be hurried over, and perhaps 
reading the scripture quite neglected. You will plead, 
perhaps, that it is but for once ; but the same allow- 
ance will be made a second and a third time ; and it will 
grow more easy and familiar to you each time than it 
was the last And thus God will be mocked, and your 
own soul will be defrauded of its spiritual meals, if I 
may be allowed the expression ; the word of God will 
be slighted, and self-examination quite disused; and se- 
cret prayer itself will grow a burden rather than a de- 
light, and a trifling ceremony rather than a devout 
homage, fit for the acceptance of our Father who is in 
heaven. 

5. If immediate and resolute measures be not taken 
for our recovery from these declensions, they will 
spread farther, and reach the acts of social worship. 
You will feel the effects in your families, and in public 
ordinances. And if you do not feel it, the symptoms 
will b% so much the worse. — Wandering thoughts will, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 207 

as it were, eat out the very heart of these duties. It is 
not, I believe, the privilege of the most eminent chris- 
tians to be entirely free from them ; but probably in these 
circumstances, you will find but few intervals of strict 
attention, or of any thing which wears the appearance 
of inward devotion. And when these heartless duties 
are concluded, there will scarce be a reflection made 
how little God hath been enjoyed in them, how little 
he hath been honored by them. Perhaps the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's supper, being so admirably adapted 
to fix the attention of the soul, and to excite its warm- 
est exercise of holy affections, may be the last ordi- 
nance in which these declensions will be felt, And 
yet who can say that the sacred table is a privileged 
place ? Having been unnecessarily straitened in your 
preparations, you will attend with less fixedness and 
enlargement of heart than usual. And perhaps a dis- 
satisfaction in the review, when there has been a re- 
markable alienation or insensibility of mind, may occa- 
sion a disposition to forsake your place and your duty 
there. And when your spiritual enemies have once 
gained this point upon you, it is probable you will fall 
by swifter degrees than ever, and your resistance to 
their attempts will grow weaker and weaker* 

6. When your love to God our Father, and to the 
Lord Jesus Christ fails, your fervor of christian affec* 
tion to your brethren in Christ will proportionably de- 
cline,and your concern for usefulness in life abate ; es- 
pecially, where any thing is to be done for spiritual ed- 
ification. You will find one excuse or another for the 
neglect of religious discourse, perhaps not only among 
neighbors and christian friends, when very convenient 
opportunities offur, but even with regard to those who 
are members of your own families, and to those who, 
if you are fixed in the superior relations of life, are 
committed to your care. 

7. With this remissness, an attachment either to sen- 
sual pleasure or worldly business will increase. For 
the soul must have something to employ it, and some- 
thing to delight itself in ; and as it turns to one or the 
other of these, temptations of one sort or another will 
present themselves. In some instances, perhaps, /the 



208 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

strictest bonds of temperance, and the regular appoint- 
ments of life, may be broken in upon through a fond- 
ness for company, and the entertainments which often 
attend it. In other instances, the interests of life ap- 
pearing greater than they did before, and taking up 
more of the mind, contrary interests of other persons 
may throw you into disquietude, or plunge you in de- 
bate and contention ; in which it is extremely difficult 
to preserve either the serenity or the innocence of the 
soul. And perhaps if ministers and other christian 
friends observe this, and endeavor, in a plain and faith- 
ful way, to seduce you from your wandering, a false 
delicacy of mind, often contracted in such a state as 
this, will render these attempts extremely disagreeable. 
The ulcer of the soul (if I may be allowed the expres- 
sion) will not bear being touched when it most needs it; 
and one of the most generous of self denying instances 
of christian friendship may be turned iuto an occasion of 
coldness and distaste, yea, perhaps, of enmity. 

8. And possibly, to sum up all, this disordered state 
of mind may lead you into some prejudices against 
those very principles which might be most effectual 
for your recovery ; and your great enemy may suc- 
ceed so tar in his attempts against you, as to persuade 
you that you have lost nothing in religion, when you 
have almost lost all. He may, very probably, lead 
you to conclude, that your former devotional frame 
were mere fits of enthusiasm ; and that the holy regu- 
larity of your walk before God waa an unnecessary 
strictness and scrupulosity. Nay, you may think it a 
great improvement in understanding that you have 
learnt from some new masters, that if a man treat his 
fellow-creatures with humanity and good nature, judg- 
ing and reviling only those who would disturb others 
by the narrowness of their notions (for these are gener- 
ally exempted from other objects of the most universal 
and disirV erested benevolence so often boasted of) he 
must necessarily be in a very good state, though he 
pretend not to converse much with God, provided that 
he think respectfully of him, and do not provoke him 
hy any gross immoralities. 

9, I mention this in the last stage of religious declen- 



OF RELIGION IN THE BOUL-. 209 

sion3, because I apprehend that to be its proper place 
and I fear it will be found by experience so stand upon 
the very confines of that gross apostacy into deliberate 
and presumptuous sin, which will claim our considera- 
tion under the next head ; and because, too, it is that 
symptom which most effectually tends to prevent the 
success, and even the use of any proper Temedies, in 
consequence of a fond and fatal apprehension that they 
are needless. It is, if I may borrow the simile, like 
those fits of lethargic drowsiness which often precede 
apoplexies and death. 

10. It is by no means my design at this time to reck- 
on up, much less to consider at large, those dangerous 
principles which are now ready to possess the mind, and 
to lay the foundation of a false and treacherous peace. 
Indeed they are ia different instances various, and some- 
times run in opposite extremes; but if God awaken 
you to read your bible with attention, and give you to 
feel the spirit with which it is written, almost every 
page will flash in conviction upon the mind, and spread 
a light to scatter and disperse these shades of darkness. 

1 1 . What I chiefly intend in this address is to engage 
you, if possible^ as soon as you perceive the first symp- 
toms of these declensions, to be upon your guard, and 
to endeavor as speedily as possible to recover yourself 
from them. And I would remiud you, that the remedy 
must begin where the first cause of complaint prevail- 
ed, I mean in the closet. Take some time for recol- 
lection and ask your own conscience seriously, How 
matters stand between the blessed God and your soul ? 
Whether they are as they once were, and as you could 
wish them to be, if you saw your life just drawing to a 
period, and were to pass immediately into the eternal 
state? One serious thought of eternity shames a thou- 
sand vain excuses, with which, in the forgeifulness of 
it, we are ready to delude our own souls. And when 
you feel that secret misgiving of heart, which will nat- 
urally arise on this occasion, do not endeavor to palli- 
ate the matter, and to find out slight and artful cover- 
ings for what you cannot forbear secretly condemning; 
but honestly fall under the conviction, and be humble 
for it. Pour out your heart before God^ and seek the 



210 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

renewed influences of his spirit and grace. Return 
with more exactness to secret devotion, and to self-ex- 
amination. Read the scripture with yet greater dili- 
gence, and especially the more devotional and spiritual 
parts of it. Labor to ground it in your heart, and to 
feel what you have reason to believe the sacred pen- 
men felt when they wrote, so far as circumstances may 
agree. — Open your soul with all simplicity to every 
lesson whicb the word of God would teach you ! and 
guard against those things which you perceive to alien- 
ate your mind from inward religion, though there be 
nothing criminal in the things themselves. They may 
perhaps in the general be lawful ; to some, possibly, 
they may be expedient j but if they produce such an 
effect, as was mentioned above, it is certain they are 
not convenient for you. In these circumstances, above 
all, seek the converse of those christians whose pro- 
gress in religion seems most remarkable, and who 
adorn their profession in the most amiable manner. 
Labor to obtain their temper and sentiments, and lay 
open your case and your heart to them with ail the free- 
dom which prudence will permit Employ yourself at 
seasons of leisure in reading practical and devotional 
books, in w'hich the mind and heart of the pious author 
is transformed into the work, and in which you can, as 
it were, taste the genuine spirit of Christianity. And, 
to conclude, take the first opportunity that presents it- 
self of making an approach to the table of the Lord, 
and spare neither time nor pains in the most serious pre- 
paration for it. There renew your covenant with 
God! and put your soul anew into the hand of Christ, 
and endeavor to view the wonders of his dying love in 
such a manner as may rekindle the languishing flame, 
and quicken you to more vigorous resolutions than ever, 
to live unto him who died for you. And watch over 
your own heart, that the good impressions you then 
felt may continue. -Rest not till you have obtained as 
confirmed a state in religion as you ever knew. Rest 
not tii you have made a greater progress than before ; 
for it is certain more is yet behind ; and it is only by a 
eertainzeal to go forward that you can be secure from 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 21 1 

tbe danger of going backward, and of revolting more 
and more. 

12.1 only add, that it is necessary to take these pre- 
cautions as soon as possible ; or you will probably find 
a much swifter progress than you are aware m the 
downhill road ; and you may possibly be left of God 
to fail into some gross and aggravated sin, so as to fill 
your conscience with an agony and horror, which the 
pain of broken bones can but imperfectly express. 



A Prayer for one under spiritual decays, 

ETERNAL and unchangeable Jehovah ! thy perfec- 
tions and glories are like thy being, immutable. Jesus 
thy Son is the same yesterday, to day and forever. The 
eternal world to which I am hastening is always equal- 
ly important, and presses upon the attentive mind 
for a more fixed and solemn regard, in proportion to 
the degree in which it comes nearer and nearer. But 
alas ! my views and my affections, and my best resolu- 
tions, are continually varying, like this poor body, 
which goes through daily an*} hourly alterations in its 
state and circumstances. Whence, O Lord, whence 
this sad change which I now experience, in the frame 
and temper of my mind towards *hee ? Whence this 
alienation of my soul from thee ? Why can I not come 
to thee with all the endearments of filial love as I once 
could? Why is thy service so remissly attended, if at- 
tended at all ? and why are the exercises of it, which 
were once my greatest pleasure, become a burden to 
me ? Where, O God, is the blessedness I once spake of, 
when my joy in thee as my heavenly Father was so 
conspicuous that strawgers might have observed it ; 
and when my heart did so overflow with love to thee, 
and with zeal for thy service, that it was matter of self 
denial to me to limit and restrain the genuine expres- 
sions of those strong emotions of my soul, even where 
prudence and duty required it ? 

Alas, Lord, whither am I fallen ? thine eye sees me 
still ; but p, how unlike what it once saw me 2 Cold 



%i% THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and insensible as I am, I must blush on the reflection*, 
Thou seest me in secret* and seest me, perhaps, often 
amusing myself with trifles in those seasons which I 
used solemnly to devote to ihine immediate servicer. 
Thou seest me coming into thy presence as by con- 
straint ; and when I am before thee, so straitened in 
spirit, that I hardly know what to say to thee, though 
thou art the God wilh whom I have to do, and though 
the keeping up an humble and dutiful correspondence 
with thee is beyond all comparison the most important 
business of my life. And even wheu I am speaking to 
thee, with how much coldness and formality is it ? It is 
perhaps the work of the imagination, the labor of the 
lips ; but where are those ardent desires, those intense 
breathings after God, which I once felt ? Where is that 
pleasing repose in thee which I was once conscious of, as 
feeing near my divine rest, as being happy in that near- 
ness, and resolving that, if possible, I would no more be 
removed from it ? But, O, how far am I how removed ! 
"When these short devotions, if they may be called de- 
votions, are over, in what long intervals do I forget 
thee, and appear so little animated with thy love, so 
little devoted to thy service, that a stranger might con- 
verse with me a considerable time without knowing 
that I had ever formed any acquaintance with thee, 
without discovering that I had so much as known or 
heard any thing oi God ! Thou callest me to thine 
house, O Lord, on thine own day, but how heartless 
are my services there ? I offer thee no more than a car- 
cass. My thoughts and affections are engrossed with 
other objects, while I draw near thee with my mouth, and 
honor thee with my lips. Thou callest me to thy table ; 
but my heart is so frozen, that it hardly melts even at 
the foot of the cross ; hardly feels any efficacy in the 
blood of Jesus. O wretched creature that I am; un- 
worthy of being called thine! unworthy of a place 
among thy children, or of the meanest situation in thy 
family ; rather worthy to be cast out, to be forsaken, 
yea to be utterly destroyed ! 

Is this, Lord, the service which I once promised, 
and which thou hast so many thousand reasons to ex- 
pect ? are these the returas I am making for thy daily 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2 13 

providential care, for the sacrifice of thy Son, for the 
communications of thy Spirit, for the pardon of my num- 
berless aggravated sins, for the hopes, the undeserv- 
ed and often forfeited hopes, of eternal glory ? Lord, I 
am ashamed to stand or to kneel before thee. But 
pity me, I beseech thee, and help me ; for I am a piti- 
able object indeed ! My soul cleaveth unto the dust, and 
lays itself in the dust^before thee ; but O, quicken me 
according to thy word ! Let me trifle no longer, for I 
am upou the brink of a precipice ! I am thinking of my 
ways, O give me grace to turn my feet unto thy testimo* 
nies ; to make haste without any farther delay, that I may 
keep thy commandments ! Search me, O Lord, and try me! 
Go to the first root of this distemper which spreads it- 
self over my soul, and recover me from it ! Represent 
sin unto me, O Lord, I beseech thee, that I may see it 
with abhorrence ! and represent the Lord Jesus Christ 
to me in such a light, that I may look upon him and 
mourn, that I amy look upon him and love ! May I awa- 
ken from this stupid lethargy into which I am sinking \ 
and may Christ give me more abundant degrees of spir- 
itual life and "activity tjian I ever yet received ! and 
may I be so quickened and animated by him, that I may 
more than recover the ground I have lost, and may 
make more speedy and exemplary progress than in my 
best days I have yet done^! Send down upon me, 
Lord, in a more rich an<* abundant effusion, thy good 
spirit ! May he dwell in me as in a temple which he 
has consecrated to himself; and while all the service is 
directed and governed by him, may holy and acceptable 
sacrifices be continually offered ! May the incense be 
constant and may it be fragrant ! May the sacred fire 
burn and blaze perpetually t and may none of its ves- 
sels ever be profaned, by being employed to an unholy 
or forbidden use !— Amen, 



214 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



. CHAP. XXIII. 

THE SAD CASE OF A RELAPSE INTO KNOWN AND DELIBER- 
ATE SIN, AFTER SOLEMN ACTS OF DEDICATION TO GOD, 
AND SOME PROGRESS MADE IN RELIGION. 

Unthought of relapses may happen, 1 and bring the soul into a misera- 
ble case, 2. Yet the case is not desperate, 3. The backslider urged 
immediately to return ; (1.) By deep humiliation before God fot so 
aggravated an offence, 4. (2.) By renewed regards to the divine mer- 
cy in Christ, 5. (3.) By an open profession of repentance where the 
crime hath given public offence, 6. (4.) Falls to be reviewed for fu- 
ture caution, 7. The chapter concludes, 8, with a prajer for the use 
of one who hath fallen into grese sins after religious resolutions and 
engagements. 

1. THE declensions which I have described in the 
foregoing chapter must be acknowledged worthy of 
deep lamentation ; but happy will you be, my dear read- 
er, if you never know, by experience, a circumstance 
yet more melancholy than this. Perhaps, when you 
consider the view of things which yon now have, you 
imagine that no considerations can ever bribe you, in 
' any single instance, to act contrarj' to the present dic- 
tates or suggestions of your conscience, and of the spir- 
it of God as setting it on work. No; you think it 
would be better for you to die. And you think rightly. 
But Peter thought and said so too : Though I should die 
with thee, yet will I not deny thee ; and yet afterwards he 
fell ; and therefore be not high minded, but fear. It is 
not impossible but you may fall into that very sin of 
which you imagine you are least in danger, or into that 
agaiast which you have most solemnly resolved, and 
©f which you have most bitterly repented. You may 
relapse into it again: but, O, if you do, nay, if you 
should deliberately and presumptuously fall but once, 
how deep will it pierce your heart ; how dear will you 
pav for all the pleasure with which the temptation has 
been baited? how will this separate between God and 
you ? What a desolation, what a dreadful desolation, 
will it spread over vour soul I It is grievous to think of 
it. Perhaps in such a state you may feel more agony 
and distress in your own conscience, when jou come se- 
riously to reflect, than you ever felt when you were 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 215 

first awakened and reclaimed, because the sin will be 
attacked with some very high aggravations beyond 
those of your unregenerate state. I well knew the 
person that said, " The agonies of a^sinner in the first 
pangs of his repentance were not to be mentioned on 
the same day with those of the backslider in heart when 
he comes to be filled with his own way." 

2. Indeed it is enough to wonnd one's heart to think 
how your's will be wounded : how all your comforts, 
all your evidences, all your hopes, will be clouded ; 
what thick darkness will spread itself on every side, so 
that neither sun, nor moon, nor stars will appear in 
your heaven. Your spiritual consolations will be gone; 
and your temporal enjoyments will also be rendered 
tasteless and insipid. And if afflictions be sent, as they 
probably may, in order to reclaim you, a consciousness 
of guilt will sharpen and envenom the ^art. Then will 
the enemy of your soul, with all his art and power, rise 
up against you, encouraged by your fall, and labor to 
trample you down in utter, hopeless ruin. He will 
persuade you that you are already undone beyond re- 
covery ; he will suggest that it signifies nothiag to at- 
tempt it any more : for that every effort, every amend- 
ment, every act of repentance, will but make your case 
so much the worse, and plunge you lower and lower 
into hell. 

3. Thus will he endeavor by terrors to keep you 
from that sure remedj r which yet remains. But yield 
not to him. Your case will indeed be sad ; and if it be 
now your case, it is deplorably so ; and to rest in it 
would be still much worse. Your heart would be 
hardened yet more and more ; and nothing could be 
expected but sudden and aggravated destruction. — Yet, 
blessed God, it is not quite hopeless. Your wounds are 
corrupted because of your foolishness ; but the gangrene 
is not incurable. There is balm in Gilead. there is a 
Physician there. Do not, therefore, render your con- 
dition hopeless, by now saying, There is no hope, and 
drawing a fatal argument from that false supposition 
for going atter the idols you have loved. Let me ad- 
dress you in the language of God to his backsliding peo- 
ple when they were ready to apprehend that to be 



216 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

their case, and to draw such a conclusion from it ; only 
return unto me, saith the Lord, Cry for renewed grace ; 
and, in the strength of it, labor to return. Cry with 
David under the like guilt, / have gone astray like a lost 
sheep, seek thy servant ; for 1 do not forget thy command- 
ments ; and that remembrance of them is, I hope, a to- 
ken for good. But if thou wilt reiurn at all, do it im- 
mediately. Take not one step more in that fatal path 
to which thoa hast turned aside. Think not to add 
one sin more to the account, and then to repent ; as if 
it would be hut the same thing ©n the whole. The 
second error may be worse than the first ; it may make 
way for another and another, and draw on a terrible 
train of consequences beyond all you can now imagine. 
Make haste, therefore, and do not delay. Escape, and 
fly as for thy life, before the dart strike through thy liver. 
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids ; 
lie not down upon thy bed under unpardoned guilt, lest 
evil overtake thee, lest the sword of divine justice 
should smite thee ; and whilst thou proposest to return 
to-morrow, thou shouidst this night go and take posses- 
sion of hell. 

4. Return immediately ; and permit me to add, re- 
turn solemnly. Some very pious and excellent divines 
have expressed themselves upon this head in a manner 
which seems liable to dangerous abuse, when they urge 
men after a fall M not to stay to survey the ground, nor 
consider how they came to be thrown down, but imme- 
diately to get up and renew the race." In slighter ca- 
ses the advice is good : but when conscience has suffer- 
ed such violent outrage, by the commission of known, 
wilful, and deliberate sin, (a case which one would 
hope should but seldom happen to those who have 
©nee seriously entered on a religious course,) I can by 
no means think that either reason or scripture encour- 
age such a method. Especially would it be improper, 
if the action itself has been of so heinous a nature, that 
even to have fallen into it on the most sudden surprise 
of temptatien, must greatly have ashamed and terrifi- 
ed, and distressed the soul. Such an affair is dreadfully 
golernn, and should be treated accordingly. If this has 
been the sad case with you, my then unhappy reader, 1 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2tf 

would pity you and mourn over you ; would beseech 
you, as you tender your peace, your recovery, the 
health and very life of your soul, that you would not 
loiter away an hour. Retire immediately for serious 
reflection, Break through other engagements and 
emploj^ments, unless they be such as you cannot in con- 
science delay for a few hours, which can seldom hap- 
pen in the circumstance I now suppose. This is the 
one thing needful. Set yourself to it, therefore, as in 
the presence of God, and hear at large, patiently and 
humbly, what conscience has to say, though it chide 
and reproach severely. Yes, earnestly pray, that 
God would speak to you by conscience, and make you 
more thoroughly to know and feel, what an evil and 
hitter thing it is that you have forsaken him. Think of 
all the aggravating circumstances attending your of- 
fence, and especially those which arise from abused 
mercy and goodness ; which arise not oaly from your 
solemn vows and engagements to God, but from the 
views which yeu have of a Redeemer's love, sealed 
even in blood. And are these the returns ? was it not 
enough that Christ should have been thus injured by 
his enemies ? Must he be wounded in the house of his 
friends too ? Were you delivered to work sueh abomina- 
tions as these ? Did the blessed Jesus groan and die for 
you, that you might sin with boldness and freedom ; 
that you might extract, as it were, the very spirit and 
essence of sin, and offend God to a height of ingrati- 
tude and baseness which would otherwise have been in 
the nature of things impossible ! O, think how justly 
God might cast you out from his presence ! How justly 
he might number you among the most signal instances 
of his vengeance ! And think how " your heart would 
endure, or your hands he strong, if he would deal thus 
with you! Alas! all your former experiences would 
enhance your sense of the ruin and misery that must be 
felt in an eternal banishment from the divine presence 
and favor. 

5. Indulge such reflections as these. Stand tht 

humbling sight of your sins in such a view as this. 

The more odious and more painful it appears, the 

greater prospect there mil be of your benefit by at- 

T 



£ la THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

tending to it. But the matter is not at rest here. All 
these reflections are intended, not to grieve, but to 
cure ; and to grieve no more than to promote the cure. 
You are indeed to look upon sin ; Lut you are also, in 
such a circumstance, if ever, to look upon Ch: ist : to 
look upon him whom you have now pierced deeper than 
before, and to movtnfor him with sincerity and tender- 
ness. The God whom you have injured and affront- 
ed, whose laws yeu have broken,. and whose j^tice 
you have, as it were, challenged by this foolish, 
wretched apostacy, is nevertheless, a most merciful 
God. You cannot be so ready to return to him as he 
is ready to receive you. Even now does he, as it 
were, solicit a reconciliation by those tender impres- 
sions which he is making upon your heart. But remem- 
ber how he will be reconciled. It is in the very same 
way in which you made your first approaches to him ; 
in the name, and for the sake of his dear Son. Come, 
therefore, in an humble c|gpendance upon him. Re- 
new your application to Jesus* that his blood may, as it 
were, be sprinkled upon your soul, that your soul may 
thereby be purified, and your guilt removed. This 
very sin of yours, which the blessed God foresaw, in- 
creased the weight of your Redeemer's sufferings ; it 
was concerned in shedding his blood. Humbly go and 
place your wounds as it were, under the droppings of 
that precious balm by which alone they can be healed. 
That compassionate Saviour will delight to restore 
you, when you lie as an humble supplicant at his feetj 
and will graciously take part with you in that peace 
and pleasure which he gives. Through him renew 
your covenant with God, that broken covenant, the 
breach of which divine justice might teach you to 
know by terrible things in righteousness j but mercy al- 
lows of an accommodation. Let the consciousness and 
remembrance of the breach engage you to enter into 
covenant anew, under a deeper sense than ever of your 
9wd weakness, and a more cordial dependance on di- 
vine grace for your security, than you have ever yet 
entertained. I know you will be ashamed to present 
yourself among the children of God in his sanctuary, 
especially at his table, under a consciousness of so 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 219 

much guilt; but break through that shame, if provi- 
dence open you the way. You should be humbled be- 
fore your offended Father ; but surely there is no piaoe 
where you are more likely to be bumbled, than when 
you see yourself in his house ; and no ordinance ad- 
ministered there can lay you lower than that in which 
Christ is evidently set forth as crucified before your eyes.— 
Sinners are the only persons who have business there; 
the best of men come to that sacred table as sinners; 
as such, make j^our approach to it ; j^ea, as the great- 
est of sinners ; as one who needs the blood of Jesus as 
much as any creature upon earth. 

6. And let me remind you of one thing more : if 
your call has been of such a nature as to give any scan- 
dal to others, be not at all concerned to save appear- 
ances, and to moderate those modifications, which deep 
humiliation before them would occasion. The depth 
and pain of that mortification is indeed aij* excellent 
medicine, which God has in his wise goodness appoint- 
ed for yon in such circumstances as these. In such a 
case, confess your fault with the greatest frankness ; 
aggravate it to the utmost ; entreat pardon and prayer 
from those whom you have offended. Then, and nev- 
er till then, you will be in the way to peace ; not by 
palliating a fault, not by making vain excuses, not by 
objecting to the manner in which others have treated 
you ; as if the least excess of rigor in a faithful admo- 
nition were a crime equal ta some great immorality 
that occasioned it. This can only proceed from the 
madness of pride and self-love : it is the sensibility of a 
wound which is hardened, swelled, and inflamed 1 * and 
it must be reduced and cooled, and suppled, before it 
can possibly be cured. To be censured and condemn- 
ed by men, will be but a little grievance to a soul thor- 
oughly humbled and broken under a sense of having 
incurred the condemning sentence of God. Such a one 
will rather desire to glorify God, by submitting to de- 
served blame ; and will fear deceiving others into a 
more favorite opinion of him than he inwardly knows 
himself to deserve. These are the sentiments which 
God gives to the sincere penitent in such a case ; and 
by this mean he restores him to that credit and regard 



220 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

among others which he does not know how to seek ; 
but which, nevertheless, for the sake both of his com- 
fort and usefulness, God wills that he should have ; 
and it is, humanly speaking, impossible for him to recov- 
er any other way. But there is something so honora- 
ble in the frank acknowledgment of a fault in deep hu- 
miliation for it, that all who see it must needs approve 
it They pity ao offender who is brought to such a dis- 
position, and endeavor to comfort him with returning 
expressions^ not only of their love^but of their esteem 
too. 

7. Excuse this digression, which may suit some ca- 
ses ; and which would suit many more, if a regular dis- 
cipline w#£e to be exercised in churches; for on such 
a supposition, the Lord's supper could not be approach- 
ed after visible and scandalous falls, without solemn con- 
fession of the offence, and declarations of repentance. 
On the other hand, there may be instances of sad apos- 
tacy, where the crime, though highly aggravated be- 
fore God, may not fall under human notice. In this 
case, remember, that your business is with him to 
whose piercing eye every thing appears in its just 
light ; before him, therefore, prostrate your souls, and 
seek a solemn reconciliation with him, confirmed by 
the memorials of hi3 dying Son. And when this is 
done, imagine not, that because you have received the 
tokens of pardon, the guilt ot your apostacy is to be 
forgot at once. Bear it still in your memory for fu- 
ture caution ; lament it before God, in the frequent re- 
turns of secret devotion especially ; and view with hu- 
miliation the scars of those wounds which your own 
folly occasioned, even when hy divine grace they are 
thoroughly healed. For God establishes his covenant, 
not to remove tne sense of every past abomination, but 
that thou may est remember thy ways , and be confounded, 
and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, 
even when I am pacified towards thee for all thou hast 
done,saith the Lord. 

8. And now upon the whole, if you desire to attain 
jsuch a temper, and to return by such steps as these, 

then immediately fall down before* God, and pour out 
your heart in his presence, ia language like this.. ; 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 221 

A prayer for one who has fallen into gross sin^ after reli- 
gious Resolutions arid Engagements* 

O MOST holy, holy, holy Lord God ! when I seri- 
ously reflect on ,thy spotless purity, and on the strict 
and impartial method of thy steady administration, to- 
gether with that almighty power of thine, which is 
able to carry every thought of thine heart into imme- 
diate and full execution, I may justly appear before 
thee this day with shame and terror, in confusion and 
consternation of spirit. This day, O my God, this dark, 
mournful day, would I take occasion to look back to 
that sad source of our guilt and misery, the apostacy 
of our common parents, and say, with thine offending 
servant David, Behold I was snap en in iniquity, and in 
sin did my mother conceive me. This day would I la- 
ment ail the fatal consequences of such a descent with 
regard to myself. And O. how many have they been ! 
The remembrance of the sins of my un yea verted stated 
v and the failings and infirmities of my after life, may 
justly confound me ! How much more such a scene as 
now lies before my conscience, and before thine all- 
seeing eye ? For thou, O Lord, knowest my foolishness^ 
and my sins are not hid from thee. Thou tellest ail "my 
zvanderings from thy statutes ; thou sees*, and thou re- 
cordest every instance of my disobedience to thee, %ml 
of my rebellion against thee; thou seest it in every 
aggravated circumstance which I can discern, and m 
many mote which I have never observed or reflected 
upon. How then shall I appear in thy presence^ or lift 
ufi my face to thee ; I am full of confusion, and feel a 
secret regret in the thought of applying to thee; but, 

Lord, to whom shall I go but unto thee ? nolo thee, ou 
whom depends my life or death ; uato thee, who alone 
canst take away that burden of guilt which now presses 
me down to the dust ; who alone canst restore to my 
soul that rest and peace which 1 have lost, and which I 
deserve forever to lo^e ! 

Behold me,G Lord God, falling down at thy feet ! 
Behold me, pleading guilty in thy presence, and sur- 
rendering myself t« that justice which I cannot escape ! 

1 have not one word to offer in my own vindication, in 

T2 



222 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ray own excuse. Words, far from being able to clear 
up my innocence, can never sufficiently describe the 
enormity and demerit of my sin. Thou, O Lord, and 
thou only, knowest to the full how heinous and how 
aggravated it is. Thine infinite understanding alone 
can fathom the infinite depth of its malignity. 1 am, on 
many accounts, most unable to do it. I cannot conceive 
the glory of thy sacred Majesty, whose authority I 
have despised, nor the number and variety of those 
mercies which I have sinned against. 1 cannot con- 
ceive the value of the blood of thy dear Son, which I 
have ungratefully trampled under my feet; nor the 
dignity of that blessed Spirit of thine, whose agency I 
have, as far as I could, been endeavoring to oppose, 
and whose work I have been, as with all my might, 
laboring to undo, and to tear up, as it were, that plan- 
tation of his grace which I should rather have been 
willing to have guarded with my life, and watered 
with my blood : O, the baseness and madness of my 
conduct ! that I should thus, as it were, rend open the 
wounds of my soul, of which I died long ere this, had 
not thine own hand applied a remedy, had not thine 
only Son bled to prepare it ! That I should violate the 
covenant that I have made with thee by sacrifice, by the 
memorials of such a sacrifice too, even of Jesus Christ 
my Lord, whereby I am become guilty of his body and 
blood. That I should bring such dishonor upon reli- 
gion to«, by so unsuitable a walk, and perhaps open 
the mouths of its greatest enemies to insult it upon my 
account, and prejudice some against it, to their ever- 
lasting destruction. 

I wonder, O Lord God, that I am here to own all 
this. ! wonder that thou hast not long ago appeared 
■is a swift witness against me , that thou hast not dis- 
charged the thunderbolts of thy flaming wrath against 
me, and crushed me into hell; making me there a ter- 
ror to all about me, as well as to myself, by a ven- 
geance and ruin, to be distinguished even there, where 
all are miserable^ and all hopeless. 

O God, thy patience is marvellous ! but how much 
more marvellous is thy grace, which, after all this, in- 
cites me tathee ! While I am here giving judgment 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 223 

against myself that I deserve to die, to die forever, 
thou art sending 1 me the words of everlasting life, and 
calling ms, as a backsliding child, to return unto thee. 
Behold, therefore, O Lord, invited by thy word, and 
encouraged by thy grace, I come ; and, great as my 
transgressions are, I humbly beseech thee freely to 
pardon them ! because I know, that though my sins 
have reached unto heaven* and are lifted up even to the 
skies, thy mercy, O Lord , is above the heavens. Extend 
thy mercy to me, O heavenly Father ; and display, in 
this illustrious instance, the riches of thy grace and 
the pre valency of thy Son's blood : for surely, if such 
crimson sins as mine may be made white as snow, and as 
woo/, and if such a revolter as I am be brought to eter- 
nal glory, earth must, so far as it is known, be filled 
with wonder, and heaven with praise ; and the great- 
est sinner may cheerfully apply for pardon, if I, the 
chief of sinners, find it. And O, that when I have lain 
mourning, and as it were, bleeding at thy feet, as long 
as thou thinkest proper, thou wouldst at length heal 
this soul of mine which hath sinned against thee ; and 
give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, 
and. the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness I 
O that thou wouldst at length restore unto me the joy of 
thy salvation, and make me hear the songs of gladness, 
that the bones thou hast broken may yet rejoice. Then, 
when a sense of thy forgiving love is shed abroad 
upon my heart, and it is cheered with the voice of 
pardon, I will proclaim thy grace to others ; J will 
teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be convert* 
ed unto thee : those that have been backsliding from 
thee shall be encouraged to seek thee by my happy 
experience, which I shall gladly proclaim for thy glo- 
ry, though it be to my own shame and confusion of 
face. And may this joy pf the Lord be my strength, so 
that in it I may serve thee henceforward with a vigor 
and zeal far beyond what I have hitherto known ! 

This I would ask, with all humble submission to thy 
will ; for I presume not to insist upou it. If thou 
shouldst see Et to make me a warning t« others, by 
appointing that I should .walk all my days in darkness, 
and at last die under a cloud, thyywill be done. But 



224 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

God, extend mercy for thy Son's sake, to this sioful 
soul at last ; and give me some place, though it were 
at the feet of all thine other servants, in the regions of 
glory! O bring me at length, though it should be 
through the gloomiest valley that any hstve ever pass- 
ed, into that blessed world, where I shall depart from 
God no more ; where I shall wound my own conscience 
and dishonor thy ho^ name no more ! Then shall my 
tongue be loosed, how long soever it might here be 
bound under the confusion of guHt ; and immortal 
praises shall be paid to that victorious blood, which has 
redeemed such an infamous slave of sin, as I must ac- 
knowledge myself to be, and brought me, from returns 
into bondage and repeated pollution, to share the dig- 
nity and holiness of those who are kings and priests un- 
to God. — Amen. 



CHAP. XXIT.* 

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIAN UNDER THE HIDINGS €*F 
GOD'S FACE. 

The phrase scriptural. 1. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the 
divine favor, 2. chiefly as to spiritual considerations, 3. This may 
become the case of any christian, 4. and will be found a very sorrow- 
ful one, 5. The following directions, therefore, are given to those 
who suppose it to be their own : — I. To enquire whether it be in- 
deed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may 
Hot prrceed from indisposition of body, 6. or difficulties as to world- 
ly circumstances, 7. If it be found to be indeed such as the title of 
the chapter proposes, be advised, II. To consider it as a merciful 
dispensation of God, to awaken and bestir the soul, and to excite it 
to a strict examination ©f conscience, and reformation of what has 
been amiss 8, 9. III. To be humble and patient while the trial con- 
tinues, 10, IV. T® go on steadily in the way of duty, 11. V. To 
renew a believing application to th§ blood of Jesus. 12. ^n humble 
supplication for one under these mournful exercises of aoied, whea 
they are found to proceed from the spiritual cau«e*supposed. 

1. THERE is a case which often occurs in the chris- 
tian life, which they who accustom themselves much 
to the exercise of devotion, have been used to call 
hidings of GocPsface. It is a phrase borrowed from the 
word of God, which I hope may shelter it firem con- 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 225 

tempt at the first hearing. It will be my business in 
this chapter to state it as plainly as I can, and then to 
give some advices as to your own conduct when you 
fall into it, as it is very probable you may, before you 
have finished your journey through this wilderness, 

2, The meaning of it may partly be understood by 
the opposite phrase, of God's causing his face to shine 
upon a person, or lifting upon him the light of his coun- 
tenance* This seems to carry in it an allusion to the 
pleasant and delightful appearance which the face of 
a friend has, and especially if in a superior relation of 
life, when he converses with those whom he loves and 
delights in. Thus Job, when speaking of the regard 
paid him by his attend tats, says, If I smiled upon them^ 
they believed k not, and the light of my countenance they 
cast not down ; that is, they were careful, in such an 
agreeable circumstance, to do nothing to displease me, 
or (as we speak) to cloud my brow. And D<tvid, when 
expressing his desire of the manifestation of God^ fa- 
vor to him, says, Lord lift thou up the light of thy recon* 
died countenance upon me ; and, as the effect of it, de- 
clares, thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than if 
corn and wine increased. Nor is it impossible, that, in 
this phrase as used by David, there may be some allu- 
sion to the bright shining forth of the Shechinah, that 
is, the lustre which dwelt in the cloud as thg visible 
sign of the divine presence with Israel, which God 
pleased peculiarly to manifest upon some public occa- 
sions, as a token of his favor and acceptance. On the 
other hand, therefore, for God to hide his face, must 
imply the withholding the tokens of his favor, and must 
be esteemed a mark of his displeasure. Thus Isaiah 
uses it : Your iniquities have separated you and your 
God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he 
will not hear. And again, Thou hast hid thy face from 
us, as not regarding* tlie calamities we suffer, and hast 
consumed us, because of our iniquities. So likewise for 
God, to hide his face from our sins, signifies to overlook 
them, and to take no farther notice of them. The same 
idea is, at other times, expressed by God's hiding his 
eyes from persons of a character disagreeable to him, 
when they come to address him with their petitions, 



226 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

not vouchsafing (as it were) to look towards them. 
This is plainly the scriptural sense of the word ; and 
agreeable to this, it is. generally used by christians ia 
our day, and every thing which seems a token of di- 
vine displeasure to them is expressed by it. 

3. It is farther to be observed here, that the things 
which they judge to be manifestations of divine favor 
towards them, or complacency in them, are not only, 
nor chiefly, of a temporal nature, or such as merely 
relate to the blessings of this animal and perishing life. 
Dayidj though the promises of the law had a continual 
reference to such, yet was taught to look farther, and 
describes them as preferable to, and therefore plainly 
distinct from the blessings of the com, flour, or the wine 
press. And if you, to whom I am now addressing, do 
not know them to be so, it is plain you are quite ignor- 
ant of the subject we are inquiring into, and indeed are 
yet to take out the first lessons of true religion. All 
that David says of beholding the beauty oj the Lord, ov 
being satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when he re- 
membered him upon his bed as well as with the goodness 
of his house, even, of his holy temple, is to be taken in the 
same sense, and can need very little explication to the 
truly experienced soul. But those that have known 
the light of God's countenance, and the shiniogs of his 
face, will, in proportion to the degree of that knowl* 
edge, be able to form some notion of the hiding of his 
face or the withdrawing of the tokens he has given his 
people of his presence and favor, which sometimes 4 
greatly embitters prosperity ; as where the contrary is 
found it sweetens affliction,, and often swallows up the 
sense of it. 

4. And give me leave to remind you, my christian 
friend (for under [hat character I now address my rea- 
ders) that to be thus deprived of the sense of God's 
love, and of the tokens of his favor, may soon be the 
case with you, though you may now have the pleasure to 
see the candle of the Lord shining upon you, or, though it 
may even seem to be sunshine and high noon to your 
soul You may lose your lively views of the divine 
perfections and glories in the contemplation of which 
you now find that inward satisfaction, You may think 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 227 

of the divine wisdom and power, of the divine mercy 
and fidelity, as well as of his righteousness and holi- 
ness, and feel little inward complacency of sotrl in the 
view ; it may he with respect t<> an, lively irnpresSiofy 
as if it were the contemplation mriiy of a common 
object, it may ^eem to you as i£y«ii '>nJ lost a j u!ea 
to those important word'?, though \Ua pieir hatl $<ftn& 
times swallowed up your TVieie soul in tra» s, orts of 
admiration, astonishtneut, and h ye. Ton may lose 
your delightful sense oflhi;* di'vinelMvor. It may be 
matter of great add sad doubl with you, whether you 
do- indeed belong to God ; an i ail the work of his bles- 
sed spirit may be so veiled and shaded in the soul, that 
the peculiar characters by which the hand of that sa- 
cred agent might be distinguished, shall be in a great 
measure lost ; and you may be ready to imagine you 
had only deluded yourself in all the former hopes you 
have entertained fii consequence of this, those or- 
dinances, in which you no»v rejoice, may grow very 
uncomfortable to yon, pven when you do indeed desire 
communion with God in them. You may hear the most 
delightful evangelical truths, opened, you may hear the 
privileges of God's children most affectionately repre- 
sented, and not be aware that you have any part or lot 
inthis matter; and from that coldness and insensibility^ 
may be drawn a farther argument that you have noth- 
ing to do w ? ith them. And then your heait may med- 
itate terror ; and under the distress that overwhelms 
you, your dearest enjoyments may be reflected upon 
as adding to the weight of \t, and making it mora sensi- 
ble, while you consider that you had once such a taste 
for these things, and have now lost it all. So that per- 
haps it may seem to you, that they who never felt any 
thing at all of religious impressions, are happier than 
you, or at least are less miserable. You may perhaps 
in these melancholy hours, even doubt whether you 
have ever prayed at all! and whether all that you 
called your enjoyments of God were not some false de- 
lights excited by the great enemy of souls, to make you 
apprehend that your state was good, that so you might 
continue his more secure prey. 
6. Such as this may be your case for a considerable 



228 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

time ; and ordinances may be attended in vain, and 
the presence of God may be in vain sought in them. 
You may pour out your soul in private, and then come 
to public worship, and find little satisfaction in either ; 
but be forced to take up the Psalmist's complaint ; My 
God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not ; and in 
the night season, and am not silent ; or that of Job, -Be- 
hold I go forward but he is not there, and backward, but 
I cannot perceive him ; on the left hand where he doth 
work but I cannot bthold him ; he hideth himself on the 
right hand that I cannot see him. So that all which 
looked like religion in your mind shallseem, as it were, 
to be melted into grief, or chilled into fear, or crushed 
Into a deep sense of your unworthin«ss ; in conse- 
quence of which you shall not dare so much as to lift 
up your eyes before God, and be almost ashamed to 
take your place in a worshipping assembly among any 
that you think bis servants. I have known this to be 
the case of some excellent christians, whose improve- 
ments in religion have been distinguished, and whom 
God hath honored above many of their brethren in 
what he hath done for them, and by them. Give me 
leave, therefore, having fhus described it, to offer you 
some plain advices with regard te it ; and let not that 
be imputed to enthusiastic fancy which proceeds from 
an intimate and frequent view of facts on the one hand, 
and from a sincere affectionate desire on the other, to 
relieve the tender, pious heart in so desolate a state. 
At least, 1 am persuaded the attempt will not be over- 
looked or disapproved by the great shepherd of the sheep, 
who hath charged ns to comfort the feeble mmded. 

6. And here I would first advise you most carefully 
to inquire whether your present distress does indeed 
arise from causes wkich are truly spiritual ; or wheth- 
er it may not rather have its foundation in some disor- 
der of body, or in the circumstances of life, in which 
you are providentially placed, which may break your 
spirits, and deject Jour mind?— The influence of the 
inferior part of our nature on the nobler, the immortal 
spirit, while we continue in this embodied state, is so 
evident, that no attentive person can, in the general, 
fail t© have observed it j and yet there are cases i» 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 229 

which it seems not to be sufficiently considered ; and 
perhaps your own may be one of them. The state of 
the body is oiten such as necessarily to suggest gloomy 
ideas even in dreams, and to indispose the soul for ta- 
king pleasure in any thing 5 and when it is so, why 
should it be imagined to proceed from any peculiar 
divine displeasure, if it does not find its usual delight 
in religion ? Or why should God be thought to have 
departed from U9, because he suffers natural causes to 
produce natural effects, without interposing by miracle 
to break the connection ? When this is the case 9 the 
help of the physician is to be sought rather than that 
of the divine, or, at least, by all means, together with 
it ; and medicine, diet, exercise, and air, may, in a 
few weeks, effect that which the strongest reasonings, 
the most pathetic exhortations or consolations, might 
for many months have attempted in vain. 

7. In other instances, the dejection and feebleness 
of the mind may arise from something uncomfortable 
in our worldly circumstances ; these may cloud as 
well as distract the thoughts, and embitter the temper, 
and thus render us in a great degree unfit for religious 
services or pleasures ; and when it is so, the remedy 
is to be sought in submission to divine Providence ; in 
abstracting our affections, as far as possible, from the 
present woild; in a prudent care to ease ourselves of 
the harden, so far as we can, by moderating unneces- 
sary expences, ansS by diligent application to business, 
in humble dependance on the divine blessing ; ia the 
mean time, endeavoring by faith to look up to him, 
who sometimes suffers his children to be brought into 
such difficulties, that he may endear himself more sen- 
sibly to them by the method he shall take for their re- 
lief. 

8 On the principles here laid down, it may perhaps 
appear, on enquiry, that the distress complained of 
may have a foundation very different from what was at 
first supposed. But where the health is sound, and the 
circumstances easy ; when the anioial spirits are dis- 
posed for gaiety and entertainment while all taste 
for religious pleasure is in a manner gone ; when the 
«oul is seized with a kind of lethargic insensibility) or, 



539 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

what I had almost called a paralytic weakness, with 
respect to every religious exercise, even though there 
should not be that deep terrifying distress, or pungent 
amazement, which I before represented as the effect 
€>f melancholy ; nor that anxiety about the accommo- 
dations of life, which strait circumstances naturally 
produce ; I would in that case vary my advice, and 
urge you, with all possible attention and impartiality, 
to search into the cause which has brought upon you 
that great evil, under which you justly mourn. And 
probably, in the general, the cause is sin ; some se- 
cret sin, which has not been discovered or observed 
by the eye of the world; for enormities that draw on 
them the observation and censure of others, will prob- 
ably fall under the case mentioned in the former chap- 
ter, as they must be instances of known and deliberate 
guilt. Now, the eye of God hath seen these evils 
which have escaped the notice of your fellow crea- 
tures^ and, in consequence of this care to conceal 
them from others while you could not hut know they 
were open to him, God has seen himself in a peculiar 
wanner affronted and injured, I had almost said, insult- 
ed by them ; and hence his righteous displeasure. 
Oh ! let not that be forgotten which is so plainly said, 
so commonly known, so familiar to almost every reli- 
gious ear, yet too little felt by any of our hearts, Your 
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and 
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 
And this is, on the whole, a merciful dispensation of 
God, though it may seem severe ; regard it not, there- 
fore, merely as your calamity, but as intended to awa* 
ken you, that you may not eontent yourself even with 
lying in tears ot humiliation before the Lord, but, like 
Joshua, rise and exert yourself vigorously to put away 
from you that accursed thing, whatever it be. Let 
this be your immediate and earnest care that your 
pride may be humbled, that your watchfulness may be 
maintained, that your affections to the world may be 
deadened, and that, on the whole, your fitness for heav- 
es may in every respect be increased. These are the 
designs of your heavenly Father, and let it be your 
great concern to cooperate with them. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 231 

9. Receive it, therefore, on the whole, as the most 
important advice that can be given you, immediately 
to enter on strict examination of your conscience. At- 
tend to its gentlest whispers. If a suspicion arises in 
your mind that any thing has not been right, trace that 
suspicion, search into every secret folding of your 
heart, improve to the purposes of a fuller discovery, 
the advices of your friends, the reproaches of your en- 
emies : Recollect for what your heart hath smitten 
you at the table of the Lord | for what it would smite 
you if you were upon a dying bed, and within this hour 
to enter on eternity. When you have made any dis- 
covery, note it down, and go on in your search till you 
can sa}', these are the remaining corruptions of my 
heart; these are the sins and follies of my life ; this 
have I neglected; this have I done amiss. And when 
the account is as complete as you can make it, set your- 
self in the strength of God, to a strenuous reformation, 
or rather begin the reformation of every thing that 
seems amiss, as soon as ever you discover it ! Return 
to the Almighty, and thou shalt be built up^ and put away 
iniquity far from thy tabernacle ; then shalt thou have 
delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy fate unto 
God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will 
hear thee ; thou shalt pay thy vows unto him^ and his light 
shall shine upon thy ways, 

10. In the mean time, be waiting for God with the 
deepest humility, and submit yourself to the discipline 
of your heavenly Father, acknowledging his justice, 
and hoping in his mercy ; even when your conscience 
is least severe in its remonstrances, and discovers noth- 
ing more than the common infirmitie's of God's people ; 
yet still bow yourself down before him, and own, that 
so many are the evils of your best days, so many the 
imperfections of your best services, that by them you 
have deserved all, and more than all, that you suffer ; — 
not only that your sun should be clouded, but that it 
should go down, and arise no more, but leave your soul 
in a state of everlasting darkness. And while the 
shade continues, be not impatient. Fret not yourself in 
any wise, but rather with a holy calmness and gentle- 
ness of soulj wait on the Lord, Be willing to stay his 



232 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

time, willing to bear his frown, in humble hope that he 
will at length return and have compassion on you. He 
has not utterly forgotten to he gracious, nor resolved that 
he will be favorable no more. For the Lord will not cast 
off forever ; but though he cause grief yet will he have 
compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. It 
is comparatively but for a small moment that he hides his 
face from you ; but you may humbly hope, that with great- 
er mercies he will gather you, and that with everlasting 
kindness he will have mercy on you. These suitable 
words are not mine, but his ; and they wear this as in 
the very front of tbem, That a soul under the hidings of 
God's face may at least be one whom he will gather, and 
to whom he will extend everlasting favor. 

31. But while the darkness continues, " go on in the 
way of your duty." Continue the use of means and or- 
dinances : Read, and meditate : Pray, yea, am" sing the 
praises of God too, theugh it may be with a heavy 
heart Follow the footsteps of his flock ; you may per- 
haps meet " the Shepherd o?souls v in doing it, Place 
yourself at least in his way. It is possible you may by 
this mean get a kind look from him ; and one look, one 
turn of thought which may happen in a moment, may, 
as it were, create a heaven in your soul at once. Go to 
the table of the Lord. If you cannot rejoice, go and 
mourn there. Ge and mourn that Saviour, whom by 
yeur sins you have pierced ; go and lament the breaches 
of that covenant, which you have there so often con- 
firmed. Christ may perhaps make himself known unto 
you in the breaking of bread ; and you may find to your 
surprise, that he hath been near yotj, when you imagin- 
ed he was at the greatest distance from you : near you 
when you thought you were cast out from his presence. 
Seek your comfort in such enjoyments as these, and 
not in the vain amusements of this world, and in the 
pleasures offense. Y shall never forget that affection- 
ate expression, which I am well assured broke out from 
an eminently pious heart, then almost ready to break 
under the sorrows of this kino :. " Lord, if I may not 
enjoy thee, let me enjoy nothing else ; but go down 
mourning after thee to the grave !" I wondered not to 
hear ? that almost as soon as this sentiment had been 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 233 

breathed out before God in prayer, the burden was ta- 
ken off, and the joy of God's salvation restored. 

12. I shall add but one advice more, and that is, 
u That you renew your application to the blood of Je- 
sus through whom the reconciliation between God and 
your soul has been accomplished." It is he that is our 
peace, and by his blood it is that we are made nigh ; it is 
in him, as the beloved of his soul, that God declares he is 
well pleased ; and it is in him that we are made accepta- 
ble to the glory oj his grace. Go, therefore, O christian, 
and apply by faith to a crucified Saviour : Go and ap- 
ply to him as to a merciful high priest, and pour out thy 
complaint before him, and show before him thy trouble. 
Lay open the distress and anguish of thy soul to him, 
who once knew what it was to say (O astonishing ! that 
he of all others should ever have said it) My Ged, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Look up for pity and 
relief to him, who himself suffered, being not only 
tempted, but with regard to sensible manifestations, 
deserted, that he might thus know how to pity those 
that are in such a melanchol3 r case, and be ready, as 
well as able to succor them. He is Emmanuel, God with 
us ; and it is only in and through him that his Father 
shines forth upon us with tbe mildest beams of mercy 
and of love. Let it be therefore your immediate care 
to renew your acquaintance with him. Review the 
records of his life and death : Hear his words : Behold 
his actions ; and when you do so, surely you will find 
a secret sweetness diffusing itself over your soul. You 
will be brought into a calm, gentle, silent frame, in 
which faith and love will operate powerfully, and God 
may probably cause the still small voice of his comforting 
spirit to be heard, till your soul bursts out into a song of 
praise, and you be made glad^ according to the days in 
which you have been afflicted. In the mean time, such 
language as the following supplication speak* may be 
suitable. 



V2 



234 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 



Jin humble Supplication for one under the Hidings of 
God's face. 

BLESSED God, With thee is the fountain of life , and 
of happiness. I adore thy name, that I have ever 
tasted of thy streams ; that I have ever felt the pecu- 
liar pleasure arising from the light of thy countenance, 
and the shedding abroad of thy love on the soul But 
alas ! these delightful seasons are now to be no more ; 
and the remembrance of them engages me to pour out my 
soul wiihinme. I wqu1<* come as I have formerly done, 
and call thee, with the same endearment, my Father 
and my God : But alas ! 1 know not how to do it. — 
Guilt and fear arise, and forbid the delightful language. 
I seek thee, O Lord, but I seek tbe€ in vain. 1 would 
pray, and my lips are sealed up. I would read thy 
word, and all the promises of it are veiled from mine 
eyes. I frequent those ordinances, which have been 
formerly most nourishing and comfortable to my soul ; 
but alas !' they are only the shadows of ordinances ; 
The substance is gone : The animating spirit is fled, 
and leaves them now at best but the image of what I 
once knew them. 

But, Lord, hast thou east off for ever, and wilt thou be 
favorable no more ? Hast thou in awful judgment deter- 
mined that my soul must be left to a perpetual winter, 
the sad emblem of eternal darkness ! Indeed I deserve 
it should be so. I acknowledge, O Lord, I deserve to 
be cast away from thy presence with disdain ; to be 
punk lo T *er than I am, much lower ; I deserve to have 
the shadow of death upon mine eye lids, and even to be 
surrounded with the thick gloom of the infernal prison. 
But hast thou not raised multitudes, who have deserv- 
ed, like me, to be delivered into chains of darkness, to the 
visions of thy glory above, where no cloud can ever 
interpose between thee and their rejoicing spirits? 
JIave mercy upon me % O Lord, have mercy upon me ! and 
though mine iniquities have now justly caused thee to 
hide thy face from me, yet be tnou rather pleased, 
agreeably to the gracious language of thy word, to hide 
thy face from my sins 7 and to blot out all mine iniquities ! 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 235' 

Cheer my heart witth the tokens of thy returning favor, 
and say unto my soul, 1 am thy salvation. 

Remember, O Lord God, remember that dreadful 
day, in which Jesus thy dear Son endured what my sins 
have deserved ! Remember that agony, in which he 
poured out his soul before thee, and said, My God, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Did he not, O Lord, en- 
dure all this, that humble penitents might through him 
be brought near unto thee, and might behold thee with 
pleasure, as their Father and their God ? Thus do I 
desire to come unto thee, blessed Saviour ! art thou 
not appointed to give unto them that mourn in Zion, beau* 
tyfor ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment 
of praise for the spirit of heaviness : O wash away my 
tears, and anoint my head with the oil of gladness, and 
clothe me with the garments of salvation. 

O that I knew where I might find thee. O that I knew 
what it is that has provoked thee to depart from me ! 
I am searching and trying my ways. O that thou wouldst 
search me and know my heart, try me, and know my 
thoughts, and if there be any wicked way in me, discover 
it, and lead me in the way everlasting ; in that way in 
which I find rest and peace for my soul, and feel the dis- 
coveries of thy love in Christ ! 

O God, who didst command the light to shine out of 
darkness, speak but the word, and light shall dart into 
sny soul at once ! Open thou my lips, and my mouth shall 
shew forth thy praise, shall burst out into a cheerful 
song, which shall display before those whom my pres- 
ent dejections may have disencoL r-ged, the pleasures 
and supports of religion ! 

Yet, Lord, on the whole, I submit *o thy will. If it 
is thus that my faith must be exercised, by walking in 
darkness for days and months, and years to come, how 
long soever they may seem, how long soever they may 
be, 1 will submit. Still will I adore thee as the God of 
Israel and the Saviour, though thou art a God that hidest 
thyself: still will I trust in the name of the Lord, and 
stay myself upon my God ! trusting in thee, though thou 
slay me ; and waiting for thee more than they that watch 
for the morning, yea, more than they that watch for the 
morning. Peradventure in the evening time it may be 



236 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

light. I know that thou hast sometimes manifested thy 
compassion to thy dying servants, and given them, in. 
the lowest ebb of their natural spirit, a full tide of di- 
vine glory, thus turning darkness ivto light before them. 
So may it please thee to gild the valley of the shadow 
of death with the light of thy presence, when I am 
passing through it, and to stretch forth thy rod and thy 
staff to comfort me, that my tremblings may cease, and 
the gloom may echo with songs of praise ! Bu£ if it be 
thy sovereign pleasure that distress and darkness 
should still continue to the last motion of ray pulse, and 
the last gasp of my breath, O let it cease with the part- 
ing struggle, and bring me to that light which is sown 
for the righteous, and to that gladness which is reserved 
for the upright in heart ; to the uncIouJed regions of 
everlasting splendor and joy, where the full anointings 
of the Spirit shall be poured out on ail thy people, and 
thou wilt no more hide thy fact from any of them ! 

This, Lord, is thy salvation for which I am waiting ; 
and whilst I feel the desires of my soul drawn out after 
it, I will never despair of obtaining it. Continue and 
increase those desires, and at length satisfy and exceed 
them all, through the riches of thy grace in Christ Jesus* 
Amen. 



CHAP. XXV. 

THE CHRISTIAN STRUGGLING UNDER GREAT AND HEAVY 
AFFLICTIONS. 

Here it is advised, (1.) That afflictions should be expected, 1. (2.) 
That the righteous hand of God should be acknowledged in them 
when they come, 2- (3.) That they should be heme with patience, 3. 
(4.) That the divine conduct in them should be cordially approved, 

4. (5.) That thankfulness should be maintained in the midst of trials, 

5. (6.) That the design ©f afflictions should be diligently enquired 
iato, and all proper assistance taken in discovering it, 6. (7.) That 
when it is discovered, it should humbly be complied with and an- 
swered, 7. A prayer suited to such a case. 

1. SINCE man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly 
upward, aad Adam has entailed on all his race the sad 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 23? 

inheritance of calamity in their way to death, it will 
certainly be prudent and necessary that we should all 
expect to meet with trials and afflictions ; and that you, 
reader, whoever you are, should be endeavoring to 
gird on your armor, and put yourself into a posture to 
encounter those trials which will fall to your lot as a 
man, and a Christian. Prepare yourself to receive 
your afflictions, and to endure them, in a manner agree- 
able to both those characters. In this view, when you 
see others under jthe burden, consider how possible it 
is, that you may be called out to the very same difficul- 
ties, or to others equal to them. Put your soul as in 
the place of theirs. Think how you could endure the 
load under which they lie ; and endeavor at once to 
comfort them, and to strengthen your own heart ; or 
rather pray that God would do it. And observing how 
liable mortal life is to such sorrows, moderate your ex- 
pectations from it ; raite your thoughts above it, and 
form your schemes of happiness only for that world 
w^ere they cannot be disappointed ; in the mean time, 
blessing God that your prosperity is lengthened out thus 
far, and ascribing it to his special providence that you 
continue so long unwounded, when so many showers of 
arrows are flying around you, and so many are falling 
by them on the right hand and on the left. 

2. When at length your turn comes, as it certainly 
will, from the first hour in which your affliction seizes 
you, realize to yourself the hand uf God in it, and loose 
not the view of him in any second cause which may 
have proved the immediate occasion. Let it be your 
first care to humble yourself under the mighty hand of 
God, that he may exalt you in due time. Own that he is 

just in all that is brought upon you^ and that in all these 
things he punishes you less than your iniquities deserve. 
Compose yourself to bear his baud with patience, to 
glorify his name by a submiss^Dn to his will, and to fall 
in with the gracious design of this visitation, as well as to 
wait the issue of it quietly, whatever the event may be. 

3. Now that patience may have its perfect work, re- 
fleet frequently and deeply upon your own meanness 
and sinfulness. Consider how often every mercy has 
befen forfeited; and every judgment deserved. Aud 



M9 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

consider, too, how long the patience of God hath borne 
with you, and how wonderfully it is still exerted to- 
wards you ; and, indeed,, not only his patience, but his 
bounty too. Afflicted as you are, for I speak 'o you 
now as actually under the pressure, look round and 
survey your remaining mercies, and be gratefully sen- 
sible of them. Make the supposition of their being re- 
moved ; what if God should stretch out his hand against 
you, and add poverty to pain, or pain to poverty, or 
the loss of friends to both ; or the death of surviving 
friends to that of those whom you are now mourning 
over ; would not the wound be more grievous ? Adore 
his goodness that this is not the case ; and take heed, 
lestyour unthaukfulness should provoke him to multiply 
your sorrows. Consider also the need you have of dis- 
cipline ; how wholesome it may prove to your soul, 
and what merciful designs our heavenly Father has in 
all the corrections he sends upon his children. 

4. Nay, I will add, that, in consequence ei all these 
considerations, it may well be expected, not only that 
you should submit to your afflictions, as what you caa- 
not avoid, but that you should sweetly acquiesce in 
them, and approve them { that you should not only jus- 
tify, but glorify God in sending them ; that you should 
glorify him with your heart and with your lips too. 
Think not praise unsuitable on such an occasion ; nor 
think that praise alone to be suitable which takes its 
rise from remaining comforts ; but know that it is your 
duty, not only tobe thankful in your afflictions, but to 
be thankful on account of them. 

5. God himself has said, In every thing give thanks ; 
and he has taught his servants to say, Fea, also we glo- 
ry in tribulation. And most certain it is, that to true 
believers they are instances of divine mercy ; for whom 
the Lord lovelh he chcsteneth, and scour geth every son whom 
he receiveth) with peculiar and distinguished endear- 
ment. View your present afflictions in this light as 
chastisements of l©ve ; and then let your own heart 
say, whether love does not demand praise. Think 
with yourself, it is thus that God is making me conform- 
able to his own Sen; it is thug that he is training me 
up for complete glory. Thus he kills my corruptions ,• 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. . 23$ 

thus he strengthens my graces ; thus he is wisely con- 
triving to bring nearer to himself, and lo ripen me for 
the honors of his heavenly kingdom* II is if need 6e, 
that I am in heaviness ; and he surely knows what need 
is better than lean pretend to teach him ; and knows 
what peculiar propriety there is in this affliction, to 
answer my present necessity, and do me that peculiar 
good which he is graciously intending me by if. This 
tribulation* hall work patience, and patience experience^ 
and experience a more assured hope ; and even a hope 
which shall not make ashamed, while the love of God is 
shed abroad in my heart* and shioes through my afflic- 
tion, like the sun through a gently descending cloud, 
darting in light upon the shade, and mingling fruitful- 
ness with weeping. 

6. Let it be then you earnest care, while you thus 
look on your affliction, whatever it may be, as comkig 
from the hand of God, to improve it to the purposes for 
which it was sent. And that you may so improve it, 
let it be your first concern to know what those purpos- 
es are. Summon up all the attention of your soul to 
bear the rod of him who hath appointed it ; and pray 
earnestly that you may understand its voice. Exam- 
ine your life, your words, and your heart ; and pray, 
that God would so guide your enquires, that vru may 
return unto the Lord that smiteth you. To assist you in 
this, call in the help of pious friends, and particularly 
your ministers ; entreat not only their prayers but their 
advices too, as to the probable design of providence ; 
and encourage them freely to tell you any thing which 
occurs to their mind upon this head. And if such an 
occasion should lead them to touch upon some of the 
imperfections of your character and conduct, look upen 
it as a great to&en of their friendship, and take it not 
only patiently but thankfully. It does but ill become a 
christian at any time to resent reproofs and admoni- 
tions, and the least of all does it become him when the 
rebukes of his heavenly Father are upon him ; he 
ought rather to seek admonitions at such a time as this, 
and voluntarily to offer his wounds to be searched by a 
faithful and skilful hand. 

7. And when by one mean or another, you have got 



24& THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

a ray ef light to direct you in the meaning and language 
of such dispensations, take heed that you do not in any 
degree, harden yourself against GW, and walk Contrary 
to him. Obstinate reluctance to the apprehended de- 
sign of any providential stroke is inexpressibly provok- 
ing to him. Set yourself, therefore, to an immediate 
reformation of whatever you discover amiss; and la- 
bor to learn the general lessons of greater submission 
to God's will, of a more calm indifference to the world, 
and of a closer attachment to divine converse, and to 
the views of an approaching invisible state. And what- 
ever particular proportion or correspondence you may 
observe between this or that circumstance in your af- 
fliction and your former transgressions, be especially 
careful to act according to that more peculiar and ex- 
press voice of the rod. Then you may perhaps have 
speedy and remarkable reason to say, that it hath been 
good for you that you have been afflicted j and while a 
multitude of others, may learn to number the times of 
your sharpest trials amoDg the sweetest and the most 
exalted moments of your life. For this purpose, let 
prayer be your frequent employment; and let such 
sentiments as these, if not in the very same terms, be 
often and affectionately poured out be/ore God. 



An humble address to God under the pressure of heavy af- 
flictions. 

O THOU supreme, yet all righteous and gracious 
Governor of the whole universe] Mean and inconsid- 
erable as this little province of thy spacious empire 
may appear, thou dost not disregard the earth and its 
inhabitants ; but attendest to its concerns with the most 
condescending and gracious regards Thou reignest^ and 
J rejoice in it, as it is indeed, matter of universal joy I 
believe thy universal providence and care ; and I firm- 
ly believe thy wise, holy, and kind interposition in 
every thing which relates to me, and to the circum- 
stances of my abode in this thy world. I would look 
through all inferior causes unto thee, whose eyes are 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 241 

upon all thy creatures ; to thee who Jormest the light, 
and Greatest darkness ; who makest peace and createst evil; 
to thee, Lord, who, at thy pleasure, ca *st exchange 
the one for the other, canst turn the brightest noon in- 
to midnight, and the darkest midnight into noon. 

O thou wise and merciful Governor of the world ! 
I have often said, Thy will\bedonc, and now thy will is 
painful to me. But shall I upon that account, unsay 
what I have so often said ? God forbid ! I come rather 
to lay myself down at thy feet, and to declare my full 
and free submission to all thy sacred pleasure. O 
Lord, thou art just and righteous in all ! I acknowledge, 
in thy venerable and awful presence, tVat I have de- 
served this, and ten thousand times more ; I acknowl- 
edge, that it is of thy mercy that 1 am not utterly consumed, 
and that anj the least degree of comfort yet remains. 
O Lord, I most readily cr nfess that the sins of one day 
of my life have merited all these chastisements; and 
that every day of my life hath been more or less sinful. 
Smile, therefore, thou, O righteous Judge ! and I will 
still adore thee, that instead of the scourge, thou hast 
Bot given a commission to the sword, to do all the 
dreadful work of justice, and to pour out my blood in 
thy presence. 

But shall I speak unto tfrfce only as my Judge ? O 
Lord, thou hast taught me a tender name; thou con- 
descendestto call thyself my Father, and to speak of 
correction as the effect of thy love. O welcome, wel- 
come those afflictions which are tokens of thy paternal 
affection, the marks of my adoption into thy family ! 
Thou knowsst what discipline I need, thou seest, O 
Lord, that bundle of fMy which there is in the heart 
of thy poor froward and thoughtless child ; and knowest 
what rods, aad what strokes are needful to drive it 
away I would, therefore, be in humble subjection to 
the Father of spirits, who chasteneih me for my profit, 
would he in subjection to him and One, I would bear thy 
strokes not merely because I caanot resist them, but 
because 1 love and trust in thee t would sweetly ac- 
quiesce and rest in thy will, as well ns stoop to it ; and 
would say, Good is the word of the Lord. And I de- 
site, that not only my lips but my soul may acquiesce. 
W 



$42 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

Yea, Lord, I would praise thee, that thou wilt show so 
much regard to me as to apply such remedies as these 
to the diseases of my mind, and art thus kindly carefal 
to traiR me up for glory. I have no objection against 
being afflicted, against being afflicted in this particular 
ivay. The cup which my Father puts into my hand, shall 
I not drink it ? By thine assistance and support I will. 
Only be pleased, O Lord, to stand by me, and some- 
times to grant me a favorable look in the midst of my 
sufferings ; support my soul, I beseech thee, by thy 
consolations, mingled with my tribulations ; and 1 shall 
glory in those tribulations that are thus allayed ! It has 
been the experience ©f many who have reflected on 
afflicted days with pleasure, and have acknowledged 
that their comforts have swallowed up their sorrows. 
And after all that thou hast done, are thy mercies re- 
strained ? Is thy hand waxed short ? or canst thou not 
still do the same for me ? 

If my heart be less tender, less sensible, thou canst 
cure that disorder, and canst make this affliction the 
means of curing it. Thus let it be ; and at length, in 
thine own due time, and in the way which thou shalt 
choose, work out deliverance for me ; and show me thy 
(marvellous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right 
hand them that put their trust in thee. For I well know, 
that how dark soever this night of affliction seems, if 
thou sayest, let there be light) there shall be light. But 
I would urge nothing before the time thy wisdom and 
goodness shall appoint. I am much more concerned 
that my afflictions may be sanctified, than that they may 
be removed. Number me, O G&6, among, the happy per- 
sons whom whilst thou chasteneth, thou teaches: out of thy 
lew* Shew me, I beseech thee, wherefore thou contend- 
estwithme ; and purify me by the fire which is so pain- 
ful to me while I am passing through it ! Dost thou not 
ehaste\ thy children for this very end, that they may be 
partakers of thine holiness 4 Thou know est, God, it is 
this my soul is breathing after. I am partaker of thy 
bounty every day and moment of my life ; I am parta- 
ker of thy gespel 5 and I hope income measure, too, a 
partaker of the grace of it operating on my heart. O 
»ay it operate Baore and »ore, that I may largely par- 



©F RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 24$ 

take of thine holiness too ; that 1 may come nearer and 
nearer in the temper of my mind to thee, O blessed 
God, the supreme model of perfection ! JLet my soul 
be, as it were, melted through with the intensest heat of 
the furnace, if I may but thereby be mad# fit for being 
delivered into themouid of thy gospel, and bearing thy 
bright and amiable image! 

O Lord, my soul longethfor thee ; it crieth out for the 
living God ! In thy presence, and under the support of 
Mhy love, I can bear any thing, and am willing to bear 
it, if I may grow more lovely in thine eyes, and more 
meet for thy kingdom. The days of my affliction will 
have an end ; the hour will at length come, when thou 
wilt wipe away all my tears. Though it tarry, I would 
wait for it. My foolish heart, in the midst of all its tri- 
als, is ready to grow fond of this earth, disappointing 
and grievous as it is : and graciously, O God, dost thou 
deal with me in breaking those bonds that would tie me 
faster to it* O let my soul be girding itself up, and, as 
it were, stretching its wings in expectation of that bless- 
ed hour, when it shall drop all its sorrows and incum- 
brances at once, and soar away to expatiate with infi- 
nite delight in the region* of of liberty, pearce, and joy ! 
Amen. 



CHAP. XXVI. 

THE CHRISTIAN ASSISTED IN EXAMINING INTO HIS 
GROWTH IN GRACE. 

The examination important, 1. False marks of growth to be avoided, 
2. True marks proposed ; such as (1.) increasing love to God, 3 t 
(2.) Benevolence to men, 4. (3.) Candor of disposition, 5. (4.) 
Meekness under injuries, 6. (5.) Serenity amidst the uncertainties 
of life, 7. (6.) Humility, 8. especially as expressed ia evangelical ex- 
ercises of mind towards Christ and the spirit, 9. (7.) Zeal for the di- 
vine honor, 10. (8.) Habitual and cheerful willingness to exchange 
worlds, whenever God shall appoint it, 11. Conclusion, 12. The 
Christian breathing after growth in grace. 

1. IF, by divine grace, you have been born again, not 
of corruptible sced^ but of incorruptible , evsn by that word 



244 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

of God, which liveth and abideth for ever, not only in the 
world, and in the church, but in particular souls in 
which it is sown ; you will, as new horn babes, desire the 
sincere milk of the w«rd, that you may grow thereby And 
though, in the most advanced state of religion on earth, 
we are but infants in comparison of what we hope to 
be, when in the heavenly world we arrive unto a per- 
feet man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of 
Christ ; yet, as we have some exercise of a sanctified 
reagon, we shall be solicitous that we may be growing 
and thriving infants. And you, my reader, if so be that 
you hove tasted that the Lord is gracious, will, I doubt not, 
feel this solicitude. I would, therefore, endeavor to 
assist you in making the enquiry, whether religion be 
on the advance in your souls. And here I shall warn 
you against some false marks of growth ; and then shall 
endeavor to lay down others on which you m^y depend 
as more solid. In this view I would observe, that you 
are not to measure your growth in grace only, or chief- 
ly, by your advances in knowledge, or in zeal, or in 
any other passionate ^impression of the mind j no, nor 
by the fervor of devotion alone ; but by the habitual 
determination of the will for God, and by your prevail- 
ing disposition to obey his command, to submit to his 
disposals, and to subserve his schemes in the world. 

2. It must be allowed, that knowledge and affeclioE 
in religion are indeed desirable. Without some de- 
gree of the former, religion cannot be rational ; and 
it is very reasonable to believe, that without some de- 
gree of the latter it cannot be sincere in creatures 
whose natures are constituted like ours. Yet there 
may be a great deal of speculative knowledge, and a 
great deal of rapturous affection, where there is no 
true religion at all ; and therefore much more when 
there is no advanced state in it. The exercise of our 
rational faculties upon the evidences of divine revela- 
tion, and upon the declaration of it as contained in 
scripture may furnish a very wicked man with a well 
digested body of orthodox divinity in his head, when 
not one single doctrine of it has ever reached his heart. 
An eloquent description of the sufferings of Christ, of 
the solemnities of judgment, of the joys of the blessed, 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. £45 

and the miseries of the damned, might move the breast 
even of a man who did not firmly believe them ; as we 
often find ourselves strongly moved by well wrought 
narrations, or discourses, which, at the same time, we 
knaw to have their foundation in fiction. Natural con- 
stitution, or such accidental causes as are, some of 
them, too low to be here mentioned, may supply the 
eyes with a flood ©f tears, which may discharge itself 
plenteously upon almost any occasion that shall first 
arise. And a proud impatience of contradiction, di- 
rectly opposite as it is to the general spirit of Christian- 
ity, may make a man's blaod boil when he hears the 
notions he has entertained, and especially those which 
he has openly and vigorously espoused, disputed and 
opposed. This may possibly lead him, in terms of, 
strong indignation, to pour out his zeal and his rage 
before God, in a fond conceit, that, as the God of truth, 
he is the patron of those favorite doctrines, hy whose 
fair appearances perhaps he himself is misled. And if 
these speculative refinements, or those affectionate sal- 
lies of the mind, be consistent with the total absence of 
true religion, they are much more apparently consistent 
with a very low estate of it. I would desire to lead 
you, my friend, into subiimer notions and juster marks ; 
and refer you to other practical writers; and, above 
all to the book of God, to prove how material they are. 
I would therefore entreat you to bring your own heart 
to answer, as in the presence of God, to such enquiries 
as these. 

3. Do you find divine love, on the whole, advanc- 
ing in vour soul ? Do you feel yourself more and more 
sensible of the presence of Gad ? and does that sense 
grow more delightful to you than.it formerly was? 
Can you, even when your natural spirits are weak and 
low, and you are net in any frame for the ardors and 
ecstacies of devotion, nevertheless find a pleasing 
rest, a calm repose of heart, in the thought that God 
is near you, and that he sees the secret sentiments of 
your soul, while you are, as it were, laboring up the 
hill, and casting a longing eye towards him, though 
you cannot say you enjoy any sensible communications 
from him ? Is it agreeable to you to open your he&rt 



246 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

to his inspection and regard ? to present it to him laid 
bare of every disguise, and to say with David, Thou, 
Lord, knowest thy servant ! Do you find a growing es- 
teem and approbation of that sacred law of God, which 
is the transcript of his moral perfections ? Do you in- 
wardly esteem all his precepts concerning all things to be- 
right ? Do you discern, not only the necessity, but the 
reasonableness, the beauty, the pleasure of obedience; 
and feel a growing scorn and contempt for those things 
which may be offered #s the price of your innocence, 
and would tempt you to sac ifice or to hazard your inter- 
est In the divine favor and friendship ? Do you not find 
an ingenuous desire to please God, not only because he 
is so powerful, and has so many good, and so many evil 
things entirely at his command, but from a veneration 
of his most amiable nature and character; and do you 
find your heart habitually reconciled to a most humble 
subjection, both to his command and to his disposing 
will ? Do you perceive thatyour own will is now more 
ready and disposed, in every circumstance, to bear the 
yoke, and to submit to the divine determination, what- 
ever he appoints to be borne or forborne ? Can you in 
patience possess your soul ? Can you maintain a more 
steady calmness and serenity when God is striking at 
yqjir dearest enjoyments in this world, and acting most 
directly contrary to your present interests, to your 
natural passions and desires ? If you can, it k a most 
certain and noble sign that grace is grown up in you to 
a very vigorous state. 

4. Examine, also, what affections you find in your 
heart towards those who are round about you, and to- 
wards the rest of mankind in general. Do you find 
your heart overflow with undissembled and unrestrain- 
ed benevolence ? Are you more sensible than you once 
were of those many endearing bonds which unite all 
men, and especially all christians, into one community, 
which make them brethren and fellow citizens ? Do all 
the unfriendly passions die and wither in your soul, 
while the kind social affections grow and strengthen ? 
And though self love was never the reigning passion 
since you became a true christian, yet, as some remain? 
Aers of it are still too ready to work inwardly, and to 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 247 

shew themselres, especially as sudden occasions arise, 
do you perceive that you get ground of them ? Do you 
think 9f yourself only as one of a greater number, 
whose particular interests and concerns are of littta 
importance when compared with those of the commu- 
nity, and ought by all means, on all occasions, to be sac- 
rificed to them ? 

5 Reflect especially on the temper of your mind 
towards those whom an unsanctiied heart might be 
ready to imagine it had some just excuse for excepting 
eut of the list of those it loves and towards whom you 
are ready to feel a secret aversion, or at least an alien- 
ation from them How does your mind stand affected 
towards those who differ from you in their religious 
sentiments and practices ? I do not say that christian 
charity will require you to think every error harm- 
less. It argues no want of love to a friend income cases 
to fear least his disorder should prove more fatal than 
he seems to imagine; nay, sometimes the very tender- 
ness of friendship may increase that apprehension. — 
But t» hate persons because we think they are mista- 
ken, and to aggravate every difference in judgment or 
practice, into ji fatal and damnable error that destroys 
all christian communion and love, is a symptom gener- 
ally much worse than the evil it condemns. Do you 
love the image of Christ in a person who thinks him- 
self obliged in conscience to profess and worship in a 
manner different from yourself? Nay, farther, can 
you love and honor that which i9 truly amiable and 
excellent in those in whom much is defective ; in those 
in whom there is a mixture of bigotry and narrow- 
ness of spirit, which may lead them perhaps to slight, 
©r even censure you ? Oan you love them as the dis- 
ciples and servants of Christ, who, through a mistaken 
zeal, may be ready tt cast out your name asevil y to warn 
others against yon as a dangerous person? This is 
none of the least triumphs of charity, nor any despica- 
ble evidence of^tn advance in religion. 

%. And, on this head, reflect farther, how can you 
bear injuries ? There is a certain hardiness of soul in 
this respect, which argues a confirmed state in piety 
and virtue. Does every thing of this kind hurry and 



348 THE RISE A^TD PKOGRESS 

ruffle you, so as to put you on contrivances how you 
may recompense, or at least, bow you may disgrace 
and expose him who has done you the wrong ? or can 
you stand the shock calmly, and easily divert your 
mind to other objects, only when you recollect these 
things, pitying and praying for those who, with the 
worst tempers and views, are assaulting you 1 This is 
a Christian-like temper indeed, and he will own it as 
such j will own you as one of his soldiers, as one of his 
heroes ; especially if it rises so far, as instead of being 
overcome of evil^ to overcome evil with good. Watch over 
your spirit and over your tongue, when injuries are 
offered ; and see whether you be ready to meditate 
upon them, to aggravate them to yourself, to complain 
,of them to others, and to lay on all the load and blame 
that you in justice can ; or whether you be re^dy to 
put the kindest construction upon the offence, to ex- 
cuse it as far as reason will allow, and (where after all, 
it will wear a black and odious aspect) to forgive it, 
heartily to fergive it, and that even before any submis- 
sion is made, or pardon asked ; and in token of the 
sincerity of that forgiveness, to be contriving what can 
be done by some benefit of other towards the injurious 
person to teach him a better temper. 

7. Examine farther with regard to the other evils 
and calamities of life, and even with regard to its un- 
certainties, how can you bear them? — Do you find 
your s©al is in this respect gathering strength ? Have 
you fewer foreboding fears and disquieting alarms than 
you once had as to what may happen in life ? Can you 
trust the wisdom and j oodaess of God to order your 
affairs for you, with more complacency and cheerful- 
ness than formerly ? Do you find you are unable to 
unite your thoughts more in surveying present circum- 
stances, that you may collect immediate duty from 
them, though you know not what God will next ap- 
point or call you to? And when you feel the smart of 
affliction, do you make a less matter of it ? Can you 
transfer your heart more easily to heavenly and divine 
objects, without an anxious solicitude, whether this ©r 
that burden be removed, so it may be but sanctified to 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 249 

promote your communion with God ; and your ripeness 
for glory ? 

8. Examine also, whether you advance in humility. 
This is a silent, but most excellent grace ; and they 
who are most eminent in it, are dearest to God, and 
most fit for the communications of his presence to them. 
Do you then feel your mind more emptied of proud and 
haughty imaginations ; not prone so much to look back 
upon past services which it has performed, as forward 
to those which are yet before you, and inward upon 
the remaining imperfections of your heart ? Do you 
more tenderly observe your daily slips and miscar- 
riages, and find yoanelf disposed to mourn over those 
things before the Lord that once passed with y®u as 
slight matters ? though when you come to survey 
them as in the presence of God, you find they were 
not wholly involuntary, or free from guilt ! Do yoi* 
feel in your breast a deeper apprehension of the infi- 
nite majesty of the blessed God, and of the gloty of 
his natural and moral perfections; so as, in consequence 
of those views, to perceive yourself (as it were) anni- 
hilated in his presence, and to shrink into less than noth- 
ing and vanity ? If this be your temper, God will look 
upon you with peculiar favor, and will visit you more 
and m#re with the distinguished blessings of his grace. 

9. But there is another great branch and effect of 
christian huzi'lity, which it would be an unpardonable 
negligence to omit Let me, therefore, farther inquire, 
Are you more frequently renewing your application, 
your sincere, steady, determinate application, to the 
righteousness and blood of Christ, as being sensible how 
unworthy you are to appear before God otherwise thaa 
in him ! And do the remaining corruptions of your heart 
humble you before him* though the disorders of your 
life are in a great measure cured? Are you more earn- 
est to obtain the quickening influences of the hoiy spir- 
it ? arid have you such a sense of youi' own weakness, 
as to engage you to depend in all the duties you per- 
form upon the communications of his grace to help your 
infirmities? Can you, at the close of your most reli- 
gion, exemplary, and useful days, blush before God for 
the deficiencies of them, while others perhaps may hn 



25© THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ready to admire and extol your conduct ? And while 
you give the glory of all that has been right to him 
from whom the strength and grace has been derived, 
are you coming to the blood of sprinkling to free you 
from the guilt which mingles itself even with the best 
of your services ? Do you learn to..receive the bounties 
of Providence, not only with thankfulness as coming 
from God, but with a mixture of shame and csnfuiion 
too, under a consciousness that you do not deserve 
them, and are continually forfeiting them ? And do you 
justify Providence in your afflictions and disappoint- 
ments, even while many are flourishing around you in 
the fu4I bloom of prosperity, whose offences have 
been more visible at least, and more notorious than 
yours? 

1Q. Do you also advaace in zeal and activity for the 
service of God, and the happiness of mankind? Does 
your love shew itself solid and sincere by a continual 
flow of good works from it ? Can you view the sorrows 
of others with tender compassion, and with projects and 
contrivances what you may do to relieve them ? Do 
you feel in your breast that you are more frequently 
devising liberal things, and ready to wave your own ad- 
vantage or pieasura that you may accomplish them ? 
Do you find your imaginations teeming (as it were) with 
conceptions and schemes for the advancement of the 
cause and interest of Christ ki the world, for the pro- 
pagation of his gospel, and for the happiness of your 
fellow-creatures ? And do you not only pray, but act 
for it ; act in such a manner a» to shew that you pray 
in earnest, and feel a readiness to do what little you 
can in this case, even though others, who might, if 
they pleased, very conveniently do a vast deal more, 
will do nothing. 

11 And not to enlarge on this copious bead, reflect 
once more, how your affections stand with regard to 
this world and another ? Are you more deeply and 
practically convinced of the vanity of these things which 
are seen and are temporal ? Do you perceive your ex- 
pectations from them and your attachments to them 
to diminish ? You are willing to stay in this world as 
long as your Father pleases, and it is right and well j 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUt 25 1 

but do you find your bonds so loosened to it that you 
are willing, heartily willing, to leave it at the shortest 
warning ; so that if G©d should see fit to summon you 
awaj- on a sudden, though it should be in the midst of 
your enjoyments, pursuits, expectations, and hopes, you 
would cordially consent to that remove : without say- 
ing, Lord, let me stay a little while longer t© enjoy this 
or tkat agreeable entertainment, to finish this or that 
scheme? Can you think with an habitual calmness, and 
hearty approbation, if such be the ditfine pleasure, of 
waking no more when yoa lie dawn on your bed, of re- 
turning home no more when you go ©ut of your house ? 
and yet on the other hand, how great e»t?ver the bur- 
thens of life are, do you find a willingaess to bear them, 
in submission t© the will of your heavenly Father, though 
it should be to many future years; and though tl.ey 
should be years of far greater affliction than you have 
ever yet seen ? Can you say calmly and steadily, if not 
with such overflowings of tender affections as you could 
desire, Behold thy servant , thy child is in thine hand, do 
with me as seemeth good in thy sight ! My will is melted 
into thine, to be lifted up or to be laid down, to he car- 
ried out, or brought in, t© be here or there, in this or 
that circumstance, just as thou pleasest, and as shall 
best suit with thy great extensive plan, which it is im- 
possible that I, or all the angels in heaven, should 
mend. 

These, if I understand matters aright, are some of 
the most substantial evidences ©f growth and establish- 
ment in religion. Search after them ; bless God for 
them, so far as you discover them in yourself; and 
study to advance in them daily, under the influences of 
divine grace, to which I heartily recommend you, and 
to which I intreat you irequently to recommend your- 
self. 



The Christian breathing earnestly after growth in grace. 

O THOU ever blessed fountain of natural and spiritu- 
al life ! I thank thee that I live, and know the exercises 



%%% THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and pleasures of a religious life. I bless thee that 
thou hast infiised into me thine own vital breath, though 
I was once dead in trespasses and sins s so that I am he- 
come in a sense peculiar to thine own children, a living 
soui. But it is mine earnest desire, that S may not only 
live, but grow ; grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 
my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, upon an acquaintance 
with whom -my progress in it 50 evidently depends ! la 
this view, I humbly entreat thee, that thou will form 
my mind to right notion? in religion, that I may not 
judge of grace by ary n rcrg conceptions of it, nor 
measure my advances in it by those thugs which are 
merely the effects of nature, and possibly its corrupt ef- 
fects ! 

May I be seeking after an increase of divine love to 
thee, my God and Father in Christ; of unreserved re- 
signation to thy wise and holy will, and of extensive be- 
nevolence to my fellow-creatures ; may I grow m pa- 
tience and fortitude of soul, in humility and zeal, in 
spirituality and 9 heavenly disposition of mind, and in a 
concern, that whether present or absent, I may be accepted 
of the Lord ; that, whether I live or die, it may be for 
his glory ! In a word, as thou knowest, I hunger and 
thirst after righteousness, make me whatever thou 
wouldst delight to see me 1 Draw en my soul, by the 
gentle influences ef thy gracious spirit, every trace, and 
every feature, which thine eyes, O heavenly Father, 
may survey with pleasure, and which thou may est 
acknowledge as thine own image ! 

I am sensible, O Lord, I have not as yet attained ! 
yea, my foul is utterly confounded to think hew far I 
am from being already perfect; but this one thing (af- 
ter the great example of thine apostle, and the much 
greater of his Lord) / would endeavor to do ; forgetting 
the things which are behind, I would press forward t* those 
which are before. O that thou wouldst feed my soul by 
thy word and spirit ! Having been, as 1 humbly hope 
and trust, regenerated by it, being born again not of 
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, even by the word 
which liveih and abideth forever ; as a new born babe, I 
desire the sincere milk of the word, that I may grow there- 
by. And may my profiling appear unto all men } till at 



OP RELIGION IN THE S0UL. S56 

length, / come unto a^perfect man, unto the measure of the 
stature of the fulness of Christ ; and after having enjoy- 
ed tne pleasure ©f those thai flourish eminently in the 
courts below, be fixed in the paradise above ! { ask and 
hope it through him of whose fulness we have all received) 
even grace for grace $ to him be glory, both now and for ev- 
ar / Amen. 



«HAP. XXVII. 

f HE ADVANCED CHRISTIAN REMINDED OF THE MERCIES 
lOF GOD, AND EXHORTED TO THE EXERCISES OF HABIT- 
UAL LOVE TO HIM, AND JOY IN HIM. 

An holy joy in God our privilege as well as our duty, 1. The christian 
invited to the exercise of it, 2. (1.) By the representations of tem- 
poral mercies, 3. (2.) By the consideration of spiritual favqrs, 4. 
(3.) By the views of eternal happines?, 5. And (4.) Of the mercies 
of God to others, the living- and the dead, 6. The chapter closes 
with an exhortation to this heavenly exercise, 7, and with an exam- 
ple of the genuine workings of this grateful joy in God. 

1. I WOULD now suppose my reader to find, on an 
examination of his spiritual state, that he is growing 
in grace. And if you desire that this growth may at 
once be acknowledged and promoted, let me call your 
soul to that more affectionate exercise of love to God, 
and joy in him, which suits and strengthens, and exalts 
the character of the advanced christian ; and which I 
beseech you to regard not only as your privilege, but 
as your duty too. Love k the most sublime, generous 
principle of all true and acceptable obedience; and 
with love, when so wisely and happily fixed, when so 
certainly returned, joy, proportionable joy, most nat- 
urally be connected. It may justly grieve a man that 
enters into the spirit of Christianity to see how low a 
life the generality even of sincere christians commonly 
live in this respect. Rejoice then in the Lord, ye right- 
eous, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness , 
and all those other perfections and glories which are 
included in that majestic, that wonderful, that delight- 
ful name. The Lord thy God 1 Spend not your sacred 
if 



£54 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

moments merely in confession, or in petition, though 
each must have their daily share ; but give a part, a 
considerable part, to the celestial and angelic work of 
praise. Yea, labor to carry about with you continual- 
ly ar heart overflowing with such sentiments, warmed 
and inflamed with such affections, 

2. Are there not continually rays enough diffused 
from the great Father of light and love, to enkindle 
it in our bosom ? Come, my christian friend and broth- 
er, come and survey with me the goodness of our 
heavenly Father* And Q^ that he would give me such 
a sense of it, that I might represent it in a suitable 
manner ; that while I am musing the fire may burn in my 
heart, and be communicated to yours! And O that it 
might pass, wilh the lines I write, from soul to soul ; 
awaken in the breast of every christian that reads 
them, sentiments more worthy of the children of God, 
and the heirs of glory ; who are to spend an eternity in 
those sacred exercises to which I am now endeavoring 
to draw you ! 

3. Have you not reason to adopt the words of Da- 
vid, and say, How many are thy gracious thoughts unto 
me, O Lord ! how great is the sum of them I When I 
'would count them, they are more in number than the sand. 
You indeed know when to begin the survey ; for the 
favors of God to you began with your being. Commem- 
orate it, therefore, with a grateful heart, that the eyes 
zuhichsaw your substance^ being yet imperfect, beheld you 
with a friendly care when you were made in secret, and 
have watched over you ever since ; and that the hand 
which drew the plan of your members, when as yet there 
was none of them, not only fashioned them at first, but 
from that time has been concerned in keeping all your 
hones, so that none of them is broken; and that indeed it 
is to this you owe it that you live. Look back upon 
the path you have trod, from the day that God brought 
you out of the womb, and say, whether you do not, as 
it were, see all the road thick set with the marks and 
memorials of the divine goodness. Recollect the pla- 
ces where jou have lived, and the persons with whom 
you have most intimately conversed ; and call to mind 
the mercies you have received in those places, and 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 255 

from (hose persons, as the instruments of the divine 
care and goodtiess. Recollect the difficulties and dan- 
gers with which you have been surrounded ; and reflect 
attentively cci what God hath done to defend you from 
them, or to carry you through them. Think how of- 
ten there has been but a step between you and death ; 
and how suddenly God hath sometimes interposed to 
set you in safety, even before yon apprehended your 
danger. Think of those chambers of illness in which 
you have been confined, and from whence perhaps yoa 
once thought you should go forth no more ; but said 
with Hezekiah, In the cutting off my days I shall go to 
the gates of the grave ; I am deprived of the residue of 
my years. God has, it may be, since that time, added 
many years to your life ; and you know not how many 
more maybe in reserve, or how much usefulness and 
happiness may attend each. Survey your circumstan- 
ces in relative life ; how many kind friends are sur- 
rounding you daily, and study how they may contribute 
to your comfort. Reflect on those remarkable circum- 
stances in providence, which occasioned the knitting 
of some bonds of this kind, which, next to those which 
join your soul to God, you number among the happiest 
And forget not in how many instances, when these dear 
lives have been threatened ; lives, perhaps, more sen- 
sibly dear than your own, God hath given them back 
from the border of the grave, and so added new en- 
dearments arising from that tender circumstance, to all 
your after converse with them. Nor forget 3 m how 
gracious a manner he hath supported some others in 
their last moments, and enabled them to leave behind a 
sweet odour of piety, which halh embalmed their mem- 
ories, revived you when ready to faint under the sor- 
rows of the first separation, and on the whole, made 
even the recollection of their death delightful. 

4. But it is more than time that I lead on your 
thoughts to the many spiritual mercies which God hath 
bestowed upon you. Look back, as it were, to the 
rock from whence you were hewn, and to the hole of the 
fit from whence you were digged. Reflect seriously on 
the state wherein divine grace found you; under how 
much guilt, under haw much pollution ! m what dan- 



256 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

ger, in what ruin ! Think what was, and O, think witfe 
yet deeper reflection, what would have been the case I 
The eye of God, which penetrates into eternity, saw 
what your mind, amused with the trifles of present 
time, and sensual gratifications, was utterly ignorant 
and regardless of ; it saw yeu on the borders of eterni- 
ty, and pitied you ; saw that you would in a little time 
have been such a helpless, wretched creature, as the 
sinner that is just now dead, and has, te his infinite sur- 
prise and everlasting terror, met his unexpected doom, 
and would, like him, stand thunderstruck in astonish- 
ment and despair. This God saw, and he pitied you; 
and being merciful to you, he provided in the counsels 
of his eternal love and grace, a Redeemer for you, and 
purchased you to himself with the blood of his Son ; a 
price, which, if you will pause upon it, and think seri- 
ously what it was, must surely affect you to such a de- 
gree as to make you fall down before God in wonder 
and shame, to think it should ever have been given for 
you. To accomplish these blest purposes, he seat his 
grace into your heart ; so that, though you were once 
darkness, you are now light in the Lord. He made that 
happy change which you now feel in your soui, 
and by his holy spirit which is given to you, he shed 
abroad that principle of love, which is enkuadled by 
this review, and now flames with greater ardor than 
before. Thus* far he hath supported you in your 
christian course ; and, having obtained help from him, 
it is that you continue even to this day. Ke hath not on- 
ly blessed you, but made you a blessing ; and though 
you have not been so useful as that holy generosity of 
heart, which he has excited, would have engaged you 
to desire, yet some good you have done in the station 
in which he has fixed you. Some of your brethren of 
mankind have been relieved ; perhaps, too, some 
thoughtless creature reclaimed to virtue and happiness, 
by his blessing on your endeavors. Some in the way 
to heaven are praising God for you ; and some, per- 
haps, already there, are longing for your arrival, that 
they may thank you, in nobler and more expressive 
forms, for benefits, the importance of which they now 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 257 

sufficiently understand, though while here they could 
never conceive it. 

5, Christian,look round on the numberless blessing? of 
one kind and another, with which you are already en- 
compassed ; and advance your prospect still farther to 
what faith yet discovers within the veil. Think of 
those now unknown transports with which thou shait 
drop every burden in the grave, and thine immortal 
spirit shall mount, iight and joyful, holy and happy, to 
God, its original, its support, and its hope ; to God the 
source of being, of holiness, and of picture ; to Jesus, 
through whom all these mercies are derived to thee, 
and who will appoint thee a throne near his own, to be. 
forever the spectator and partaker of his glory. —Think 
of the rapture with which thou shalt attend his tri- 
umph in the resurrection day, and receive this poor 
mouldering, corruptible body, transformed into his glo- 
rious image ; and then think, " These hopes are not 
mine alone, but the hopes of thousands and millions- 
Multitudes whom I number among the dearest of my 
friends upon earth, are rejoicing with me in these ap- 
prehensions and views ; and God gives me sometimes 
to see the smiles on their cheeks, tha sweet humble 
hope that sparkles in their eyes, and shines through 
the tears of tender gratitude ; and to hear that little of 
their inward complacency and joy which language can 
express. Yea, and multitudes more, who were once 
equally dear to me with these, though I have laid them 
in the grave, and wept over their du&t, are living to 
God, living in the possession of if; conceivable delights, 
and drinking large draughts of the water of life, which 
flows in perpetual streams at his right hand" 

6. O Christian, thou art still intimately united and al- 
lied to them. Death cannot break a friendship thus 
cemented; and it ought not to render thee insensible 
of the happiness of those fmends for whose memory 
thou retainestso just an honour, They live to God as 
his servants ; they serve him and see his face ; and they 
make but a small part of that glorious assembly. Mil- 
lions equally worthy of thine esteem and affection with 
themselves, inhabit those blissful regions ; and wilt 
thou not rejoice in their joy ? and wilt thou not adore 
X2 



258 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

that everlasting spring of holiness and happiness from 
whence each of these streams is derived ? Yea, I will 
add, while the blessed angels are so kindly regarding 
us, while they are ministering to thee, O christian, and 
bearing thee in their arms as an heir oj salvation, wilt 
tliQU not rejoice in their felicity too ; and wilt thou not 
adore that God, who gives them all the superior glory 
of their more exalted nature, and gives them a heaven, 
which fills them with blessedness, even while they 
seena to withdraw from it, that they may attend oa 
thee ? 

7. This, and infinitely more than this, the blessed 
God is, was, and shall ever be. These felicities of 
the blessed spirits that surround his throne, and thy fe- 
licities, O christian, are immortal. These heavenly 
luminaries shall glow with undecaying flame ; and thou 
s :ak shine and glitter among them, when the sun and 
stars are gone out ; still shall the unchanging Father of 
lights pour forth his beams upon them ; and the lustre 
they reflect from him, and their happiness in him, shall 
be everlasting, shall be ever growing. Bow dcvn, O 
Vion child of God, thou heir of glory, bow down, and 
let all that is within thee unite in one act of grateful 
love, and let all that is around thee, all that is before 
thee, in the prospects of an unbounded eternity, concur 
to elevate and transport thy soul ; that thou mayest, 
as far as possible, begin A the work and blessedness of 
heaven, in falling down before the God of it, in open- 
in? thine heart to his gracious influences, and in breath- 
ing out before him that incense of praise which these 
warm beams of his presence and love have so great a 
tendency to produce, and to ennoble with a fragrancy 
resembling that of his paradise above. 



The grateful soul rejoicing in the blessings of providence 
and giace, and pouring out itself before God in vigor' 
qus and affectionate exercises of love and praise. 

O MY God, it is enough ! I have mused, and the fire 
burneth ! But 0! in what language shall the flame 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 259 

break forth ! What can I say but this, that my heart 
admires thee, and adores thee, and loves thee ! My lit- 
tle vessel is as full as it can hold ; and I would pour 
out all that fulness before thee, that it may grow capa- 
ble of receiving more and more. Thou art my hope and 
my help ; my glory, and the lifter up of my head. My 
heart rejoicetkin thy salvation ; and when I set myself 
under the influences of thy good spirit to converse with 
thee, a thousand delightful thoughts spring up at once ; 
a thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, and flow 
in upon my soul with such refreshment and joy, that 
they seem to crowd into every moment the happiness 
of days, and weeks, and ftionths. 

I bless thee, O God, for this soul of mine, which thou 
hast created : which thou hast taught to say, and I 
hope to the happiest purpose, Where is God my Maker? 
I bless thee for the knowledge with Which thou hast 
adorned it. I bles? thee for that grace with which, I 
trust, I may (not without humble wonder) say, thou 
hast sanctified it ; though alas ! the celestial plant is 
fixed in too barren a soil, and does not Nourish to the 
degree I could wish. 

I bless thee also for that body which thou hast given 
me, and which thou preser?est as yet in its strength 
and vigor; not only capable of relishing entertainments 
which thou providest for its various senses, but (which 
I esteem far more valuable than any of them for its 
own sake,) capable of acting with some vivacity in thy 
service. I bless thee for that ease and freedom with 
which these limbs of mine move themselves, and obey 
the dictates of my spirit, I hope as guided by thine. I 
bless thee that the keepers of the house do rwtyet tremble, 
nor the strong men bow themselves ; that theyjhat look out 
ef the windozvs are not yet darkened, nor the daughters of 
music brought low. 1 bless thee, O God of life, that the 
silver cord is not yet loosed, nor the golden bowl broken : 
for it is thine hand that braces all my nerves, and thine 
infinite skill that prepares those spirits which flow in 
so freely, and when exhausted, recruit so soon and so 
plentifully. 

I praise thee for that royal bounty with which thou 
providest for the daily support of mankind in general^ 



266 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

and for mine in particular ; for the various tables 
which thou spreadest before me, and for the flowing 
which thou puttest into my hands. I bless thee that 
these bounties of thy providence do not serve, as it 
were, to upbraid a disabled appetite, and are not like 
messes of meat set before the dead. I bless thee too, 
that I eat not my morsel alone ; but share it with so many 
agreeable friends, who add -the relish of a social life to 
that of the animal, at our seasons of common repast. I 
thank thee for so many dear relatives at home, for so 
many kind friends abroad, who are capable of serving 
me in various instances, and disposed to make an oblig- 
ing use of that capacity, 

Nor would I forget to acknowledge on thy favor, ia - 
rendering me capable of serving others, and giving me 
in many instances, to know how much more blessed it is 
to give than receive. I thank thee for a heart which 
feels the sorrows of the necessitous, and a mind which 
can make it my early care and refreshment to contrive, 
according to my little ability, for their relief j for this 
also cometh forth from thee^ O Lord) the great author of 
everj r benevolent inclination, of every prudent scheme, 
of every successful attempt to spread happiness around 
us, or in any instance to lessen distress. 

And surely, O Lord, if I thus acknowledge the pleas- 
ure of sympathy with the afflicted, much more must I 
bless thee for those of sympathy with the happy, with 
those that are completely blessed. I adore thee for|the 
streams that water paradise, and maintain it in ever- 
flourishing, evergrowing delight. I praise thee for 
the rest, the joy, the transport thou art giving to many 
that were once dear to me on earth ; whose sorrows it 
w r as my labor to sootVe, and whose joys especially in 
thee, ft was the delight of my heart to promote. I 
praise thee for the bfessedness of every saint, and of 
every angel, that surrounds thy throne above, and I 
praise thee with accents of distinguished pleasure for 
that reviving hope which thou hast implanted in nay 
bosom, that I shall ere long know, by cleac. sight, and 
by everlasting experience, what that felicity of theirs 
is which I now only discover at a distance, through 
the comparatively obscure glass of faith. Even now I 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2dfl 

am waiting for thy salvation, with that ardent desire on 
the oae hand which its sublime greatness cannot but 
inspire into the believing soul, and that calm resigna- 
tion on the other, which the immutability of the prom- 
ise establishes. 

And bow, O my God, what shall I say unto thee ? 
What, but that I love thee above all the powers of 
language to express ! That I love thee for what thou 
art to thy creatures, who are in their various forms, 
every nioaient deriving being, knowledge, and happi- 
ness from thee, in numbers and degrees far beyond 
what my narrow imagination can conceive, But O, I 
adore and love thee yet far more for what thou art in 
thyself, for those stores of perfection, which creation 
has not diminished, and which never can be exhausted 
by all the effects of it which thou impartest to thy crea- 
tures ; that infinite perfection, which makes thee thine 
own happiness, thine own end ; amiable, infinitely 
amiable and venerable, were all derived excellency 
and happiness forgot. 

O thou first, thou greatest, thou fairest, of all ob- 
jects ! thou only great, thou only fair, possess all my 
soul ! and surely thou dost possess it. While I thus 
feel thy sacred spirit breathing on my heart, and ex- 
citing these fervors of love to thee, I cannot doubt it 
any more than I can doubt the reality of this animal 
life, while 1 exert the actings of it, and feel its sensa- 
tions. Surely if ever I knew the appetite of hunger, 
my soul hungers after righteousness, and longs for a 
greater conformity to thy blessed nature, and holy 
will. If ever my palate felt thirst, my soul thirsteth 
for God, even for (he living God, and paateth for the 
more abundant communication of his favor. If ever 
this body, when wearied with labors or journies, knew 
what it was to wish for the refreshment of my bed, and 
rejoiced to rest there, my soul, with sweet acquies- 
cence, rests upon thy bosom, O heavenly Father, and 
returns to its repose in the embraces of its God, who 
hath dealt so bountifully with it. And if ever I saw the 
face of a beloved friend with complacency and joy, I 
rejoice in beholding thy face, O Lord, and in calling 
thee my Father in Christ. Such thou art, and such 



262 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

thou wilt be, for time and for eternity. What have 
I more to do, but to commit myself to thee for both ? 
leaving it to thee to choose mine inheritance, and to 
order my affairs for me while all my business is to 
serve thee, and all my delight is to praise thee. My 
soul follows hard after GW, became his right hand up* 
holds me. Let it still bear me up, and f shall press on 
towards thee, till all my desires be accomplished in the 
eternal enjoyment of thee ! Amen. 



CHAP. XXVIII. 

THE ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN URGED TO EXERT HIM- 
SELF FOR PURPOSES OF USEFULNESS. 

A sincere love to God will express itself, not only in devotion but in be- 
nevolence to men, 1,2. This is the command of God, 3. The true 
Christian feels his soul wrought to a holy conformity to it,4, and there- 
fore will desire instructions on this head, 5. Accordingly directions 
are given for the improvement of various talents ; particularly, 
(1.) Genius and learning, 6. (2.) Power, 7. (3.) Domestic authori- 
ty, 8. (4.) Esteem, 9. (5.) Riches, 10. Several good ways of em- 
ploying them hinted at, 11. Prudence in expence urged, for the sup- 
port of charity, 12, 13. Divine directions in this respect to be 
sought, 14. The Christian breathing after more extensive usefulness. 

1. SUCH as I have described in the former chapter, 
I trust are, and will be, the frequent exercises of your 
souls before God. Thus will your love and gratitude 
breathe itself forth in the divine presence, and will, 
through Jesus the great Mediator, come up before it as 
incense, and yield an acceptable savor. But then you 
must remember this will not be the only effect of that 
love to God> which I have supposed to warm your 
heart. If it be sincere, it will not spend itselt in w©rd3 
alone ; but will discover itself in actions, and will pro- 
duce, as its genuine fruit, an unfeigned love to your 
fellow-creatures, and an unwearied desire and labor to 
do them good continually. 

2. " Has the great father o^mercies," will you say, 
• ; looked upon me with so gracious an eye ; has he not 
only forgiven me ten thousand offences, but enriched 
me with such a variety of benefits; oh! what shall I 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2dS 

Render to him for them all ! Instruct me, G ye Oracles 
of eternal truth ! Instruct me, ye elder Brethren in the 
family of my heavenly Father ! instruct me above all, 
O thou spirit of wisdom and of love, what I may be 
able to do to express my love to the great eternal foun. 
tain of love and to approve my fidelity to him, who 
has already done so much to engage it, and who will 
take so much pleasure in owning and rewarding it !" 

3. This, O christian, is the command "which we have 
heard from the beginning, and it will ever continue in 
unimpaired force, that he who hath loved God, should 
love his brother also ; and siiouid express that love,, not 
in word and profession alone, but in deed and in truth. 
You are to love your neighbor as yourself ; to love the 
whole creation of God; and, so far as your influence 
can extend, 'oust endeavor to m*ke it happy. 

4 u Yes," will you say, u and I do love it. I feel 
the golden chain of the divine love encircliag us ail, 
and binding us close to each other ; joining us in one 
body ; and diffusing, as it were, one soul through all. 
May happiness true and sublime, perpetual and ever- 
growing happiness, rrign through the whole world of 
God's rational aud obedient creatures in heaven and 
earth ! And may every revolted creature that is capa- 
ble of being recovered and restored, be made obedient ; 
yea, may the necessary punishment of those who are 
irrecoverable, be over ruled by infinite wisdom and 
love, to the good of the whole !" 

5. These are right sentiments ; and if they are in* 
deed the sentiments of your heart, O reader, and not 
an empty form of vain words, they will be attended 
with a serious concern to act in subordination to this 
great scheme of divine providence according to your 
abilities in their utmost extent. And to this purpose 
they will put you on surveying the peculiar circum- 
stances of your life and being, that you may discover 
what opportunities of usefulness they now afford, and 
how those opportunities and capacities may be im- 
proved. Enter, therefore, into such a survey ; not 
that you may pride yourself in the distinctions of divine 
providence or grace towards you, or having received, 
inay glory as if you had not received; but that yon may 



$64 fHE MSE AND PROGRESS 

deal faithfully with the great proprietor, whose stew- 
ard you are, and by whom you are entrusted with eve- 
ry talent, which with respect to any claim from your 
fellow creatures, you may call your own. And here$ 
having gifts differing according to the grace which is now 
given unto you, let us hold the balance with ao^ impar- 
tial hand, that so we may determine what it is that 
God requires of us; which is nothing less than doing 
the most we can invent, contrive, and effect for the 
general good. But, oh, how seldom is th& estimate 
iaithfu \y made ! and how much does the world around 
us, and how much do our own souls suffer, for want of 
that fidelity ! 

6. Halh God given you genius and learning ? It was 
not that yon might amuse or deck yourself with it and 
kindle a blaze which should onlj serve to attract and 
dazzle the eyes of men ; it was intended to be the 
tneans of leading both yourself and them to the Father 
oi lights And it will be your duty, according to the 
peculiar turn of that genius and capacity, either to en- 
deavor to improve ami adorn human life, or, by a more 
direct application of it to divine subjects, to plead th6 
cause of religion, to defend its truths, to enforce and 
recommend its practice, to defer men from courses 
Which would be dishonorable to God and fatal to *ftem- 
se*ves, and to try the utmost efforts of ail the solemnity 
and tenderness with which you can clothe your address- 
es, to lead them into the paths of virtue and of happi- 
ness. 

7. Has God invested you with power, whether it be 
in a larger or smaller society? Remember, that this 
power was given you that God might be honored, and 
those placed under j^our government, whether domes- 
tic or public, might be made happy. Be concerned 
therefore, whether you be entrusted with the rod, or 
the sword, it may nGt be borne in vain. Are you a ma- 
gistrate ! have you any share in the great and tremen- 
dous charge of enacting laws? Reverence the authori- 
ty^ of the supreme legislator, the great guardian of so- 
ciety ; promote none, consent to none, which you do' 
not in your own conscience esteem, in present circum- 
stances, an intimation of his will - f and in the establish* 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 265 

snent of which you do not firmly believe you shall be 
his minister for good. Have you the charge of execu- 
ting laws ; put life into them by a vigorous and strenu- 
ous execution, according to the nature of the particu- 
lar office you bear. Retain not an empty name of au- 
thority. Permit not yourself, as it were to fall asleep 
on the tribunal. Be active, be wakeful, be observant 
of what passeth around you. Protect the upright and 
the innocent. Break in pieces the power of the op- 
pressor. Unveil every dishonest art. Disgrace as 
well a* defeat the wretch, that makes his distinguish- 
ed abilities the disguise or protection of the wicked- 
ness which he ought rather to endeavor to expose, and 
to drive out of the world with abhorrence. 

8. Are you placed only at the head of a private fam- 
ily ? Rule it for God. Administer the concerns of that 
little kingdom with the same views, and for the same 
principles, which I have been inculcating on the pow- 
erful and the great ; if by an unexpected accident any 
of them should suffer their eyes to glance upon the pas- 
sage above. Your children and servants are your nat- 
ural subjects. Let good order be established among 
them, and keep them under a regular discipline. Let 
them be instructed in the principles of religion, that 
they may know how reasonable such a discipline is ; 
and let them be accustomed to act accordingly. You 
cannot indeed change their hearts, but you may very 
much influence their conduct ; and by that mean may 
preserve them from many snares, may do a great deal 
to make them good members of society, and may set 
them, as it were^ in the way of God's steps, if peradven- 
ture passing by he may bless them with the riches of 
his grace. And fail not to do your utmost to convince 
them of their need of those blessings ; labor to engage 
them to an high esteem of them, and to an earnest de- 
sire after them as incomparably more valuable than 
any thing else 

9. Again,has God been pleased to raise you to esteem 
among your fellow creatures, which is not always in 
proportion to a man's rank or possessions in hun?ian life? 
Are your counsel* heard with attention? Is your c»mpa- 
pany sought ? Does God give you good acceptance in the 



£66 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

eyes of men, so that they do not only put the fairest 
construction on your words, but overlook faults of 
which you are conscious to yourself, and consider your 
actions and performances in the most indulgent and fa- 
vorable light ? You ought to regard this, not only as a 
favor of providence, and as an encouragement to you 
cheerfully to pursue your duty, in the several branches 
of it, for the time to come; but also, as giving you 
much greater opportunities of usefulness than in your 
present station you could otherwise have had. If your 
character has any weight in the world, throw it into 
the right scale. Endeavor to keep virtue and good- 
ness in countenance. Affectionately give your hand to 
modest worth, where it seems to be depressed or over- 
looked, though shining when viewed in its proper light, 
with a lustre which you may think much superior to 
your own. Be an advocate for truth ; be a counsellor 
of peace ; be an example of candor; and do all you 
can to reconcile the hearts of men, and especially of 
good men, to each other, however they may differ in 
their opinions about matters which it is possible for 
good men to dispute. And let the caution and humility 
of your behaviour in circumstances of such superior em- 
inence, and amidst so many tokens of general esteem, si- 
lently reprove the rashness and haughtiness of those 
who, perhaps, are remarkable for little else; or who, 
if their abilities were indeed considerable, must be des-_ 
pised, and whose talents must be in a great measure lost 
to the public, till that rashness and haughtiness of spir- 
it be subdued. Nor suffer yourself to be interrupt- 
ed in this* generous and worthy cause by the little at- 
tacks of envy and calumny which you may meet with 
in it. Be still attentive to the general good, and stead- 
ily resolute in your efforts to promote it ; and leave it 
to providence to guard or to rescue your character 
from the base assaults of malice and falsehood ; iwhich 
will often, without your labor, confute themselves, and 
heap upon the authors greater shame, or (if they are 
inaccessible to that) greater infamy, than your human- 
ity will allow you to wish them. 

10, Once more : Has God blessed you with riches? 
has he placed you in s^ch circumstances that you have 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2G7 

more than you absolutely need for the subsistence of 
yourself and your family ? Remember your approach- 
ing account. Remember what an incumbrance these 
things often prove to men in the way of their salvation, 
and how often, according to our Lord's express declar- 
ation, they render it as difficult to enter into the kingdom 
of God, as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a nee- 
dle. Let it therefore be your immediate, your earnest, 
and your daily prayer, that riches may not be a snare 
and a shame to you, as they are to by far the greater 
part of their possessors. Appropriate, I beseech you, 
some certain part and proportion of your estate and 
revenues to charitable uses ; with a provisional in- 
crease, as God shall prosper you, in any extraordinary 
instance. By this mean you will always have a fund of 
charity at hand ; and you will probably be more ready 
t© communicate, when yow look upon what is so depos- 
ited as not in any sense your own, but as already actu- 
ally given away to those uses, though not yet affixed 
to particular objects. It is not for me to say what that 
proportion ought to be. To those who have large 
revenues and no children, perhaps, a third or one half 
may be too little ; to those whose incomes ar$ small, 
and their charge considerable, though they have some- 
thing more than is absolutely necessary, it is possible a 
tenth may be too much. But pray that God would 
guide yo-n mind ; make a trial lor one year, on such 
terms as in your conscience you think will be most 
pleasing to him ; and let your observations on that 
teach you to fix your proportion for the next ; always 
remembering that he requires justice in the first place, 
and alms deeds only so far as may consist with that. 
Yet, at the same time, take heed of that treacherous, 
delusive, and, in many instances, destructive imagina- 
tion, that justice to your family requires that you 
should leave your children very rich ; which has, per- 
haps, cost some parsimonious parents the lives of those 
darlings for whom they hid up the portion of the poor ; 
and what fatal consequences of divine displeasure may 
attend it to those that yet survive, God only knows $ 
and I heartily pray that you or yours may never learn 
by experience. 



268 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

11. And (bat your heart may be yet more opened, 
and that your charity may be directed to the best pur- 
poses, let me briefly mention a variety of good uses 
which may call for the consideration of those whom 
God ha% in this respect distinguished by an ability to 
do good. To assist the hints lam to offer, look round 
in the neigborhood in which you live. Think kow 
many honest and industrious, perhaps too I might ad^, 
religious people, are making very hard shifts to strug- 
gle through life. Think what a comfort that would 
be to them, which you might without asy inconven- 
ience spare from that abundance which God has given 
j'ou. Hearken also to any extraordinary call of chari- 
ty which may happen, especially those of a public na- 
ture ; and help them forward with your example and 
your interest, which, perhaps, may be of much greater 
importance than the sum which you contribute, con- 
sidered in itself. Have a tongue to plead for the ne- 
cessitous as well as a hand to relieve them ; and en- 
deavor to discountenance those poor shameful excuses 
which covetousness often dictates to those, whose art 
may indeed set seme varnish on what they suggest, but 
so slight a one, that the coarse ground will appear 
through it. See how many poor children are wander- 
ing naked and ignorant about the streets, and in the 
way to all kinds of vice and misery ; and consider 
what can be done towards clothing some of them at 
least, and instructing them in the principles of religion. 
Would every thriving family in a town, which is able 
to afford help on such occasions, cast a pitying eye on 
one poor family in its neigborhood, and take it under 
their patronage io assist in feeding, and clothing, and 
teaching the children, in supporting it in affliction, in 
defending it from wrongs, and in advising those that 
have the management of it, as circumstances may re- 
quire, how great a difference would soon be produced 
in the appearance of things amongst us ? Observe who 
are sick, that if there be no public infumary at hand 
to which you can introduce them, (where your contri- 
bution wiil yield the largest increase,) vou may do 
something towards relieving them at home, and sup- 
plying them with advice and medicines, as well as with 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 269 

proper diet and attendance. Consider also the spirit- 
ual necessities of men ; in providing for which, 1 would 
particularly recorrimend to you the very important and 
noble chanty of assisting young persons of genius and 
piety with what is necessary to support the expence of 
their education for the ministry, in a proper course of 
grammatical or academical studies. And grudge not 
some proportion of what God hath given you to those 
who, resigning all temporal views to minister to you 
the gospel of Christ, have surely an equitable Claim to 
be supported by you, in a capacity of rendering you 
those services, however laborious, to which for your 
sakes, and that of your common Lord, they have devo- 
ted their lives. And while you are so abundantly sat' 
fed with the goodness of God^s house, even of his holy tern* 
pie, have compassion on those who dwell in a desert 
land ; and rejoice to do something towards sending 
among the distant nations of the heathen world that 
glorious gospel which hath so long continued unknown 
to multitudes, though the knowledge of if, with becom- 
ing regard, be life * erlasting. These are a few im 
portant charities, which 1 would point out to those 
whom providence has enriched with its peculiar boun- 
ties ; and it renders gold more precious than it could 
appear in any other light, that it is capable of being em- 
ployed for such purposes. But if you should not have 
gold to spare for them, contribute your silver ; or, as a 
farthing or a mite 5 is not overlooked by God when it 
is given from a truly generous and charitable heart, let 
that be cheerfully dropped into the treasury When 
richer offerings cannot be afforded. 

12. And that, amidst so many pressing demands for 
charity, you may be better furnished to answer them, 
seriously reflect on your manner of living, I say not 
that God requires you should become one of the many 
poor relieved out of your income. The support of so- 
ciety, as at present established, will not only permit, 
but require, that some persons should allow themselves 
in the elegancies and delights of life ; by furnishing 
which, multitudes of poor families afe much more 
creditably and comfortably subsisted, vvith greater ad* 
vantage to themselves, and safety to the public, than 
Y 2 



270 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

they could be if the price of their labors or the com- 
modities in which they deal, were to be given them as 
an alms; nor can I imagine it grateful to God that his 
gift should he refused, as if they were meant for snares 
and curses rather than benefits. This were to frus- 
trate the benevolent purposes of the gracious Father 
pf mankind, and, if carried to its rigor, would be a sort 
ctf conspiracy against the whole system of nature. — 
Let the bounties of providence be used; but let us 
carefully see to it that it be in a moderate and prudent 
manner, lest, by our own folty, that which should have 
been for our welfare become a trap. Let conscience say, 
my dear reader, with regard to yourself, what propor- 
tion of the good things you possess your heavenly Fa- 
ther intends for yourself and what for your brethren ; 
and live not as though you had no brethren, as if pleas- 
ing yourself in all the magnificence and luxury you 
can devise, were the end for which you were sent into 
the world. I fear this is the excess of the present age, 
and not an excess of rigor and mortification. Examine 
therefore, your expences, and cotnpure them with your 
income. That may be shamefully extravagant in you, 
which may not only be pardonable, but commendable 
in another of superior estate. Nor can yoa be sure 
that you do not exceed, merely because ycu do not 
plunge yourself in debt, nor render yourself incapable 
of laying up any thing for your family. If you be disa- 
bled from doing any thing for the poor, or any thing 
proportionable to your rank in life, by that genteel and 
elegant way of living which you affect, God must disap- 
prove of such a conduct ; and you ought, as you will 
answer it to him, to retrench it. And though the di- 
vine indulgence will undoubtedly be exercised to tfoese 
in whom there is a sincere principle of faith in Christ, 
and undissembled love to God and men, though it acts 
not to that height of beneficence and usefulness which 
might have been attained ; yet be assured of this, that 
he who rendereth to every cue according to his works, 
will have a strict regard to the degrees of goodness in 
the distribution of final rewards ! so that every neg- 
lected opportunity draws after it an irreparable loss, 
which will go into eternity with you, And let me add P 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 271 

too, that every instance of negligence indulged, ren- 
ders the mind still more and more indolent and weak, 
and consequently more indisposed to recover the 
ground which has been lost, or even to maintain that 
which has hitherto been kept. 

13. Complain not, that this is imposing hard things 
upon you. I am only directing your pleasures into a 
nobler channel ; and indeed that frugality, which is 
the source of such generosity, far from being at all in- 
jurious to your reputation, will rather, amongst wise 
and good men, greatly promote it. But you have far 
nobler motives before you than those which arise froia 
their regards. I speak to you as to a child of God, and 
a member" of Christ ; as joined therefore by the most 
intimate union to all the poorest of those that believe 
in him. I speak to you as to an heir cf eternal glory, 
who ought therefore to have sentiments great and sub- 
lime in some proportion to that expected inheritance. 

14. Cast about, therefore, in your thoughts, what 
good is to be done, and what you can dp, either in 
your own person, or by your interest with others ; and 
go about it with resolution, as in the name aad pres- 
ence of the Lord. And as the Lordgiveth wisdom, and 
out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding, 
go to the footstool of his throne, and there seek that 
guidance and that grace which may suit your present 
circumstances, and may be effectual to produce the 
fruits of holiness and usefulness, to his more abundant 
glory, and to the honor of your christian profession. 



The established christian breathing after more extensive 
usefulness. 

O BOUNTIFUL Father, and sovereign Author of 
good, whether natural or spiritual ! I bless thee for the 
various talents with which thou hast enriched so unde- 
serving a creature, as I must acknowledge myself to 
be. My soul is in the deepest confusion before thee, 
when I consider to how little purpose I have hitherto 
improved them. Alas ! what have I done, in propor- 



272 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

lion to what thou mightest reasonably have expected, 
With the gifts of nature which thou hast bestowed upon 
me, with my capacities of life, with my time, with my 
talents, with my- possessions, with my influence over 
others! Alas! through my own npgligence and folly, 
I look hack on a barren wilderness, where I might 
have been a fruitful field, and a springing harvest ! 
Justly do I indeed deserve to he stripped of all, to be 
brought to an immediate account for all, to be con- 
demned as in many respects unfaithful to thee, and to 
the world, and to my own soul ; and, in consequence of 
that condemnation, to be cast into the prison of eternal 
darkness ! But thou, Lord, hast freely forgiven the 
dreadful, debt often thousand talents. Adored be thy 
name for it ! Accept, OLord, accept that renewed sur- 
render, which I would now make of myself, and of all 
I have unto thy service ! 1 acknowledge that it is of 
thine own that I give thee ; make me, I beseech thee, a 
faithful steward, for my great Lord ! and may I think 
of no separate interest of my own in opposition to 
thine ! 

I adore thee, O thou God of all grace, if, while I am 
thus speaking to thee, I feel the love of thy creatures 
arising in my soul, if I /eel my heart opening to em- 
brace my brethren of mankind ! O make me thy faith- 
ful almoner, in distributing to them all that thou hast 
lodged in mine hand for their relief! And in determin- 
ing what is my own share, may 1 hold the balance with 
an equal hand, and judge impartially between myself 
nnd them ! The proportion thou aliowest may I thank- 
fully take for myself, and those who are immediately 
mine ! The rest may I distribute with wisdom, and 
fidelity, and cheerfulness ! Guide mine hand, O ever- 
merciful Father, while thou- doest me the honor to 
make me thine instrument in dealing out a few of thy 
bounties, that I may bestow them where they are most 
needed, and where they will answer the best end ! And 
if it be thy gracious will, do thou multiply the seed sown^ 
prosper me in my worldly affairs, that I may have more 
to impart to them that need it ; and thus lead me on 
to the region of everlasting plenty and everlasting be- 
nevolence ! There may 1 meet with many to whom I 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 273 

have been an affectionate benefactor on earth; and if 
it be thy blessed will, with many whom I have also 
been the means of conducting into the path to that bliss- 
ful abode ! There may they entertain me in their hab- 
itations of glory ! And, in time and eternity, do thou, 
Lord, accept the praise of all, through Jesus Christ ; 
at whose feet, after the most useful course, I would at 
last die, with as much humility as if I were then exert- 
ing the first act of faith upon him, and had never had 
any opportunity, by one tribute of obedience and grati- 
tude in the services of life, to approve its sincerity ! 



CHAP. XXIX. 

THE CHRISTIAN REJOICING IN THE VIEWS OF DEATH AND 
JUDGMENT. 

Death and judgment are near ; but the christian has reason to welcome 
both, 1. Yet nature receils from the solemnity of them, 2. An at- 
tempt to reconcile the mind, [I.] To the prospect of death. 3. froant 
the consideration, (1.) Of the many evils that surround us in that 
mortal life, 4. (2.) Of the remainder of sin which we feel within *5, 
5. And, (3.) Of the happiness which is immediately to succeed 
death, 6, 7. All which might make the christian willing to die in the 
mo3t agreeable circumstances of human life, 8. [II.] The christian 
has reason to rejoice in the prospect of judgment, 9. Since, howev- 
er awful it be, Christ will then come to vindicate his honor, to dis- 
play his glory, and to triumph over his enemies, 10. As also to com- 
plete the happiness of every believer, 11, and of the whole church, 12, 
13. The meditation of a christian, whose heart is warm with these 
prospects. 

1. WHEN the visions of the Lord were closing upon 
John, the beloved disciple, in the island of Patmos, it 
is observable, that he who gave him that revelation, 
even Jesus, the faithful and true witness, concludes 
with those lively and important words, He who testifi- 
cth these things, saithj Surely I come quickly ; and John 
answers, with the greatest readiness and pleasure, 
Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus. Come as thou hast 
said, surely and quickly ! And remember, O Christian, 
whoever you are, now reading these words, your di- 
vine Lord speaks in the same language to you : Behold 



274 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

I come quickly. Yes, very quickly will he come by 
death, to turn the key, to open the door of the grave 
for thine admittance thither, and to lead thee through 
it into the now unknown regions of the invisible world. 
Nor is it long before the judge who slandeth at the door, 
will appear also to the universal judgment ; and though 
perhaps not only scores but hundreds of years may lie 
between that period And the present moment, yet it is 
but a very small point of time to him who views at once 
all the unmeasurable ages of past and future eternity. 
A thousand years are with him but as one day, and one day 
as a thousand years. In both these sensea then does he 
come quickly ; and I trust you can answer, with a glad 
amen, that the warning is not terrible or unpleasant to 
your ears, but rather that his coming, his certain, his 
speedy coming, is the object of your delightful hope 
and of your long expectation. 

2. lam sure it is reasonable it should be so, and yet 
perhaps nature, fond of life, and unwilling to part with 
a long known abode, to enter on a state to which it is 
entirely a stranger, may recoil from the thoughts of 
dying; or, struck with awful pomp of an expiring and 
dissolving world, may k®k on the judgment day with 
some mixture of terror. And therefore, my dear 
brother in the Lord, (for such I can now esteem you,) 
I would reason with you a little on this head, and would 
entreat you to look more attentively on this solemn 
object, which will, I trust, grow less disagreeable to 
you, as it is more familiarly viewed. Nay, I hope, that 
instead of starting back from it, you will rather spring 
forward towards it with joy and delight. 

*3. Think, O Christian, when Christ comet* to call 
you away by death, he comes to set you at liberty from 
your present sorrows, to deliver you from your strug- 
gles with remaining corruption, and to receive you to 
dwell with him in complete holiness and joy. You 
shall be absent from the body, and be present with the 
Lord. >" 

4. He will indeed call you away from this world. 
But O, what is this world that you should be fond of 
it, and cling to it with so much eagerness f* How low 
are all these enjoyments that are peculiar to it? and 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 275 

how many its vexations, its snares, and its sorrows ? Re- 
view your pilgrimage thus far ; and though you roust 
acknowledge, that goodness and mercy have followed you 
all the days of your life, yet has not that very mercy it- 
self planted some thorns in your paths, and given you 
some wise and necessary, yet painful intimations, that 
this is not your rest ? Review the monuments of your 
withered joys, of your blasted hopes ; if there be yet 
any monuments of Ihem remaining, more than a mourn- 
ful remembrance they have left behind in your afflict- 
ed heart Look upon the graves that have swallowed 
up many of your dearest and most amiable friends, per- 
haps in the very bloom of life, and in the greatest inti- 
macy of your converse with them ; and reflect, that if 
you hold it out a few years more, death will renew its 
conquests at your expence, and devour the most pre- 
cious ©t those that yet survive. View the living as 
well as the dead; behold the state of human nature, un- 
der the many grievous marks of its apostacy from God ; 
and say, whether a wise and good man would wish to. 
continue always here. Methinks, were I myself se- 
cure from being reached by any of the arrows that fly 
around me, I could not but mourn to see the wounds 
that are given by them, and to hear the groans of those 
that are continually falling under them. The diseases 
and calamities of mankind are so manj, and, which is 
most grievous of all, the distempers of their minds are 
so various and so threatening, that the world appears 
almost like an hospital ; and a man, whose heart is ten- 
der, is ready to feel his spirits broken, as he walks 
through it, and surveys the sad scene ; especially when 
he sees how little he can do for the recovery of those 
whom he pities. Are you a christian, and does it not 
pierce your heart to see how human nature is sunk in 
vice and in shame ? to see with what amazing inso- 
lence some are making themselves openly vile, and 
how the name of Christ is dishonored by many too that 
call themselves his people ? to see khe unlawful deeds 
and filthy practices of them that live ungodly, and to 
behold, at the same time, the infirmities at least, and ir- 
regularities, of those concerning whom we have better 
hopes ? and do you not wish to escape from such a 



276 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

world, where a righteous and compassionate soul must 
be vexed from day to day by so many spectacles of sin 
and misery ? 

5. Yea, to come nearer home ; do you not feel 
something within you which you long to quit, and 
which would embitter even Paradise itself ? something 
which, were it to continue, would grieve and distress 
you even in the society of the blessed? Dovounot 
feel a remainder of indwellingsin ; the sad censequence 
of the original revolt of our nature from God ? Are you 
not struggling every day with some residue of corrup- 
tion, or at least mourning on account of the weakness 
of your graces ? Do you not often find your spirits dull 
and languid when you would desire to raise them to the 
greatest fervor in the service of God ? Do you not find 
your hearts too often insensible of the richest instances 
of his love, and your hands feeble in his service, even 
when to will is present with you ? Does not your life, in 
its best- days and hours, appear a low unprofitable thing 
when compared with what you are sensible it ought to 
be, and with what you wish that it were ? Are you not 
frequently, as it were, stretching the pinions of the 
mind, and saying, O that I had wings like a dove, that I 
might fly away and be at rest. 

6. Should you not then rejoice in the thought that 
Jesus comes to deliver you from these complaints ? 
That he comes to answer your wishes, and to fulfil the 
largest desires of your hearts ; those desires that he 
himself has inspired ? That he comes to open upon 
you a world of purity and joy, of active, exalted, and 
unwearied services ? 

7. O Christian, how often have you cast jsl longing 
eye towards those happy shores, and wished to pass the 
sea, the boisterous, unpleasant, dangerous sea, that 
separates you from them ? When your Lord has con- 
descended to make you a short visit in his ordinances 
on earth, how have you blest the time and the place, 
and pronounced it, amidst any other disadvantage of sit- 
uation, to be the very gate of heaven ? And is it so de- 
lightful to behold this gate, and will it not be much 
more so t® enter into it ? Is it so delightful to receive 
the visits of Jesus for an hour, and will it not be infinite- * 



OP RELIGION IN THE SOUL. syr 

ly more to dwell with him forever ? Lord, may you 
well say, when I dwell with thee, I shall dwell in holiness, 
for thon thyself art holiness ; I shall dwell in love, for 
thou thyself art love ; I shall dwell in joy, for thou art the 
fountain of joy, as thou art in the Father, and the Father 
in thee. Bid welcome to his approach, therefore, to 
take you at your word, and to fulfil to you that saying 
of his, on which youc soul has so often rested with 
heavenly peace and pleasure ; Father, I will that they 
whom thou hastgiven me, be with me where I am, that 
they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me. 

8. Surely you may say in this view, The sooner 
Christ comes the better. What though the residue 
of your days be cut off in the midst ? What though you 
leave many expected pleasures in life untasted. and 
many schemes unaccomplished ? Is it not enough that 
what is taken from a mortal life shall be added to a glo- 
rious eternity ; and that you shall spend those days 
and years in the presence and service of Christ in heav* 
en, which you might otherwise have spsntNvith him and 
for him in the imperfect enjoyments and labors of earth. 

9 But your prospects reach not only beyond death, 
but beyond the separate state. For with regard to 
his final appearance to judgment, our Lord says, Surely 
I come quickly, in the sense illustrated before ; and so 
it will appear to us, if we compare this interval of time 
with the blissful eternity which is to succeed it ; and 
probably if we compare it with those ages which have 
already passed, since the sun began to measure out to 
earth its days and its years. And will you not here al* 
so sing your part in the joyful anthem, Amen, even so 
tome, Lord Jesus ! 

10. It is true, Christian, it is an awful day ? a day 
in which nature shall be thrown into a confusion as yet 
unknown. No earthquake, no eruption of burning 
mountains, no desolations of cities by devouring lame* 
or of countries by overflowing rivers or seas, can give 
any just emblem of that dreadful day ; when the heav 
ens being on fire shall be dissolved, as well as the earth 
and all that is therein, shall be burnt up ; when all nature 
shall flee away in amazement, before the face of the uni- 
versal Judge^ and there shall be a great cry, far beyond 



m THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

what was known in the land of Egypt, when there was 
not a house in which there was not one dead. Your flesh 
may be ready to tremble at the view ; yet your spirit 
will surely rejoice in God your Saviour. You may just- 
ly say, ' Let this illustrious day come, even with ail its 
horrors !" Yea, like the christians described by the 
apofetle,you may be looking for and hasting to that day 
of terrible brightness and universal doom. For your 
Lord will then come to vindicate the justice of those 
proceedings which have been in many instances so 
much obscured, and because they have been obscured, 
have been also blasphemed. He will come to display 
his magnificence, descending from heaven with a shout, 
with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of 
God, taking his seat upon a throne infinitely exceeding 
that of earthly, or even of celestial princes, clothed 
with ht$ Father 1 * glory and his own, surrounded with a 
numberless host of shining attendants, when coming to be 
glorified in his saints, and admired of all them that believe. 
His enemies shall also be produced to grace his tri- 
umph ; the serpent shall be seen there rolling in the 
dust, and trodden under foot by him and by all his ser- 
vants ; those who once condemned him shall tremble 
in bis presence ; and those who bowed the knee before 
him in profane mockery,shall,in wild despair, call to the 
mountains to fall upon them, and to the rocks to hide them 
from the face of the Lamb of God, whom they once led 
away to the most inhuman slaughter. 

11. O christian, does not your loyal heart bound at 
the thought ? and are you not ready, even while you 
read these lines, to begin the victorious shout in which 
you are then to join? He justly expects that your 
thoughts should be greatly elevated and impressed with 
the views of his triumph ; but at the same time he per- 
mits you to remember your own personal share in the 
joy and glory of that blessed day ; and even now he has 
the view before him of what his power and love shall 
then accomplish for your salvation. And what shall it 
not accomplish ? He shall come to break the bars of 
the grave, and to animate your sleeping clay. Your 
bodies must indeed be laid in the dust, and be lodged 
tgiere as a testimony of Gfod's displeasure against sin f 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 279 

against the first sin that was ever committed, from the 
sad consequences of which the dearest of his children 
cannot be exempted. But you shall then have an ear to 
hear the voice of the Son of God, and an eye to behold 
the lustre of his appearance ; u\:d shall shine forth like 
the sun arising in the clear heaven, which is as a bride* 
groom coming out of his chamber. Your soul shall be 
new dressed to grace this high solemnity ; and be 
clothed, not with the rags of mortality, but with the 
robes of glory ; for he shall change this vile body, to 
fashion it like his own glorious body. And when you are 
thus royally arrayed, he shall confer public honors on 
you, and on all his people, before the assembled world. 
You may now perhaps be loaded with infamy, called 
by reproachful names, and charged with crimes, or with 
views which your very soul abhors ; but he will then 
bring jorth your righteousness as the light, cftid your salva- 
tion as a lamp that burnetii. Thouf h you have been dis- 
honored by men^ you shall be acknowledged by God ; 
and though treated as the filth of the world, and the off- 
scouring of all things ; he will shew that he regards 
you as his treasure, in the day that he makes up his jewels. 
When he shall put away all the wicked of the world like 
dross, you shall be pronounced righteous in that full as- 
sembly ; and though indeed you havp broken the divine 
law, and might in strict jus&ce have been condemned, 
yet being clothed with the righteousness of the great 
Redeemer, even that righteousness which is of God by 
faith, Justice itself shall acquit you and join with mercy 
in bestowing upon you a crown of life. Christ will con' 
fess you before men and angels, will pronounce you good 
and faithful servants, and call you to enter into the joy of 
your Lord j he will speak of you with endearments as 
his brethren, and will acknowledge the kindnesses 
which have been shown to you as if he had received 
them in his own person. Yea, then shall you, O 
Christian, who may perhaps have sat in some of th$ 
lowest places in our assemblies, though it may be none 
of the rich and great of the earth would condescend to 
look upon, or to speak teyou, be called to be assessors 
with Christ on hisjudgment seat, and to join with him 



28© THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

in the sentence he shall pass on wicked men, an<i re«* 
bellious angels. 

12. Nor is it merely one day of glory and of tri- 
umph \ but when the Judge arises and ascends to his 
Father's court, all the Messed shall ascend with him, 
and you among the rest ; you shall ascend together 
with your Saviour, to his Father and your Father, *o his 
God and your God. You shall go to make your ap- 
pearance in the new Jerusalem, in those new shining 
forms that you have received, which will no doubt be 
attended with a correspondent improvement of mind ; 
and take up your perpetual abode in that fulness of joy, 
with which you shall be filled and satisfied in the pres- 
ence of God, upon the consummation of that happiness 
which the saints in the intermediate state have been 
wishing and waiting for. You shall go from the ruins 
of a dissolving world to the new heavens and new earth, 
wherein righteousness forever dwells. There all the 
number of God's elect shall be accomplished, and the 
happiness of each shall be accomplished. The whole 
society shall be presented before God as the bride, the 
Lamb's wife, whom the eye of its celestial bridegroom 
shall survey with unutterable delight, and Gonfess to be 
without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing ; its character 
and state being just what he originally designed it to be, 
when he first engaged to give himself for it, to redeem it 
to God by his blood. So shall you ever be with each oth- 
er, and with the Lord ; and immortal ages shall roll away, 
and find you still unchanged ; your happiness always 
the same, and your relish for it the same; or rather, 
ever growing, as your souls are approaching nearer 
and nearer to him who is the source of happiness, and 
the centre of infinite perfection. 

13. And now look round about upon earth, and sin- 
gle out, if you can, the enjoyments or the hopes for the 
sake of which you would say, Lord delay thj coming, 
or for the sake of which you any more should hesitate 
to express your longing for it, and to cry, even so come 
Lord Jesusy come quickly. 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2&f 

The meditation and prayer of a Christian whose heart is 
warmed mith these proposals. 

O BLESSED Lord, my soul is enkindled with these 
views, and rises to thee in the Hanle. Thou hast tes- 
tified thou comest quickly ; and 1 repeat my joyful as- 
sent. Amen % even so come, Lord Jesus. Come, for I 
long to h ive done with this low life ; to have done with 
its burthens, its sorrows, and its snares! Come, ^br I 
long to ascend into thy presence, and to see the court 
thou art holding above ! 

Biassed Jesus, death is transformed when I view it 
in this light. The king of terras is sent no more as 
such, but as a messenger to, carry me home, and place 
me near the King of glory and of grace. 1 hear with 
pleasure the sound of thy feet approaching still nearer 
and nearer ; draw aside the veil whenever thou pleas- 
est ! Open the bars of my prison,fhat my eager soul may 
spring forth to thee, and cast itself at thy feet ; at the feet 
of that Jesus, whom having not seen, I love ; and in whom^ 
though now I see thee not, yet believing, I rejoice with joy 
unspeakable, and full of glory ! Thou* Lord, shaft she\» m* 
the path of life ; thine hand shall guide me to thy bliss- 
ful abode, where there is fulness of joy, and rivers ofev* 
erlatting pleasure. Thou shalt assign me an habitation 
with thy faithful servant*, whose separate spirits are 
now living with thee, while their bodies sleep in the 
dust. Many of them have been my companions in thy 
laborious work, and, in the patience and tribulation of 
thy kingdom, my dear companions and my brethren ; O 
show me, blessed Saviour, how glorious and how happy 
thou hast made them !] Show me to what new forms of 
better life thou hast conducted them, whom we call the 
dead ! in what nobler and more extensive services thou 
hast employed them ! that E may praise thee better 
than I now can, for thy goodness to them ! And 0, give 
me to share with them in their blessings and their ser- 
vices, and to raise a song of grateful love, like that 
which they are breathing forth before thee ! 

Yet, m}' blessed Redeemer, even there will my 
soul be aspiring to a yet nobler and more glorious 
hope ; and from this as yet unknown splendor and feli- 
Z 2 



£S2 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

city shall I be drawing new arguments to look and long 
for the day of thy final appearance. There shall I 
long more ardently than I now do to see thy conduct 
Tindicated, and thy triumph displayed \ to see the dust 
of thy servants re-animated; and death, the last of 
their enemies and of thine, swallowed up in victory. I 
shall long for that superior honor that thou intendest 
me, and that complete bliss to which the whole body of 
thy people shall be conducted. Come, Lord Jesus, 
come quickly, will mingle itself with the songs of Par- 
adise, and sound from the tongues of all the millions of 
thy saints, whom thy grace has transplanted thither. 

In the meantime, O my divine Master, accept the 
homage which a grateful heart now pays thee, in a 
sense of the glorious hopes with which thou hast in- 
spired it ! It is thou that hast put this joy into it, and 
hast raised my soul to this glorious ambition ; where- 
as I might otherwise have now been grovelling in the 
lowest trifles of time and sense, and been looking with 
horror on that hour which is now the object of my most 
ardent wishes. 

be with me always, even to the end of this immor- 
tal life ! and give me, while waiting for thy salvation, 
to be doing thy commandments i May my loins be gird- 
ed about, and my lamp burning, and mine ears be still 
watchful for the blessed signal of thine arrival ; that 
my glowing soul may with pleasure spring to meet thee, 
and be strengthened by death to bear those visions of 
glory, under the ecstacies of which feeble mortality 
would aow expire ! 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 283 



CHAP. XXX. 

THE CHRISTIAN HONORING GOD BY HIS DYINS 
BEHAVIOUR. 

Reflections ©n the sincerity With which the preceding advices hav£ 
been given, 1. The author is desirous that (if Providence permit) he 
may assist the Christian to die honorably and comfortably, 2. 3. With 
this view it is advised, (1.) To rid the mind of all eathly cares, 4. (2.) 
To review the humiliation of the soul before God, and its application 
to the blood of Christ, 5. (3.) To exercise patience under bodily pains 
and sorrows 6. (4.) At leaving the world to bear an honorable testi- 
mony to religion, 7. (5.) To give a solemn charge to surviving friends, 
8. Especially recommending faith in Christ, 9. (6.) To keep the 
promises of God in view, 10, 1 1. And (7.) To commit the departing 
spirit to God, in the genuine exercises of gratitude and repentance, 
fail hand charity, 12. which are exemplified in the concluding medi- 
tation and prayer. 

1. THUS, my dear reader, I have endeavored to 
lead you through a variety of circumstances ; and those 
not fancied and imaginary, but such as do indeed occur 
in the human and christian life And I can truly and 
cheerfully say, that I have marked out to you the path 
which 1 myself have trod and in which it is my desire 
still to go on. I have ventured my own everlasting in- 
terest on that foundation on whieh I have directed } 7 ou 
to adventure yours. What I have recommended as 
the grand business of your life I desire to make the 
business of my own ; and the most considerable enjoy- 
ments which I expect or desire in the remaining days 
of my pilgrimage on earth, are such as I have directed 
you to seek, and endeavored to assist you in attaining. 
Such love to God, such constant activity in his service, 
such pleasurable views of what lies beyond the grave, 
appeared to me (God is my witness,) a felicity incom- 
parably beyond any thing else which can offer itself t0 
our affection and pursuit ; and I would not for ten thou- 
sand worlds resign my share in them, or consent ev£a 
to the suspension of the delights which they afford, dur- 
ing the remainder of my abode here. 

2. I would humbly hope, through the diving bless- 
ing, that the hours you have spent in the review *)f 
these plain things may have turned to some profitable 

I 



284 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

account, and that in consequence of what you have 
read, you have either been brought into the way of 
life and peace, or been induced to quicken your pace 
in it. Most heartily should I rejoice in being farther 
useful to you, and that even to the last. Now there 
is one scene remaining 1 ; a scene through which you 
must infallibly pass, which has something in it so aw- 
ful, that I cannot but attempt doing a little to assist you 
in it ; I mean the dark valley of the shadow of death. 
I would earnestly wish, that for the credit of your pro- 
fession, the comfort of your own soul, and the joy and 
edification of your surviving friends, you might die sot 
only safely but honorably too ; and therefore I would 
offer to you a few parting advices. I am sensible in- 
deed that Providence may determine the circumstances 
of your death in such a manner as that you may have 
do opportunity of acting upon the hints I now give you. 
Some unexpected accident, from without or from with- 
in, may, as it were, whirl yon tp heaven before you 
are aware ; and you may find yourself so suddenly 
there, that it may seem a translation rather than a 
death. Or it is possible the force of a distemper may 
affect your understanding in such a manner that you 
may be quite insensible of the circumstances in which 
you are ; and so your dissolution (though others may 
see it visibly and certainly approaching) may be as 
great a surprise to you as if you died in full health. 

3. But as it is, on the whole, probable you may have 
a more sensible passage out of time into eternity ; and 
as much may, in various respects, depend oa your dy- 
ing behaviour, give me leave to propose some plain 
directions with relation to it, to be practised, if God 
give you opportunity, and remind you of them, it may 
not be improper to look over the xxix chapter again, 
when you find the symptoms of any threatening disor- 
der; and I the rather hope, that what I say may be 
useful to you, as methinks, I find myself disposed to ad- 
dress you with something of that peculiar tenderness 
which we feel for a dying friend ; to whom, as we 
expect that we shall speak to him no more, we send 
snt, as it were, all our hearts in every word. 

4. I would advise then, in the first place, that, as 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 2&5 

soon as possible, you would endeavor to get rid of all 
further care with regard to your temporal concerns, by 
settling them in time, id as reasonable and christian a 
manner as you can. I could wish, there may be noth- 
ing of that kind to hurry your mind when you are least 
able to bear it, or to distress or divide those who come 
after you. Do that which, in the presence of God, you 
judge most equitable, and which you verily believe will 
be most pleasing to him. Do it in as prudent and ef- 
fectual a manner as you can ; and then consider the 
world as a place you have quite done with, and it* af- 
fairs as nothing farther to you, more than one. actually 
dead ; unless as you may do any good to its inhabitants 
while yet you continue amoRg them, and may, by any 
circumstance in your last actions or words in life, leave 
a blessing behind you to those who have been your 
friends and fellow travellers, while you have been dis- 
patching that journey through it, which you are now 
finishing. 

5. That you may be the more at leisure, and the 
better prepared for this, enter into some serious re- 
view of your own state, and endeavor to put your soul 
into as fit a posture as possible, for your solemn appear- 
ance before God. For a solemn thing' indeed it is to 
go into his immediate presence ! to stand before him, 
not as a supplicant at the throne of his grace, but at his 
bar as a separate spirit, whose time of probation is 
over, and whose eternal state is to be immediately de- 
termined. Renew your humiliation before God for 
the imperfections of your life, though it has in the 
main been devoted to his service. Renew your appli- 
cation to the mercies of God, as promised in the cove- 
nant of grace, and to the blood of Christ, as the blessed 
channel in which they flow. Resign yourself entirely 
to the divine disposal and conduct, as vvilliug to serve 
God, either in this world or the other, as he shall see 
fit. And sensible of your sinfulness on the one hand, 
and of the divine wisdom and goodness on the other, 
summon up all the fortitude of your soul to bear, as 
well as you can, whatever his afflicting hand may far- 
ther lay upon you, and to receive the last stroke of it, 



ZU THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

as one who would obtain the most entire subjection t© 
the great and good Father of spirits. 

6. Whatever you suffer, endeavor to show yourself 
an example of patience. Let that amiable grace havt 
its perfect work ; and since it has so little more to do, 
let it close the scene nobly. Let there not be a mur- 
muring word ; and that there may not, watch against 
every repining thought; and when you feel any thing 
of that kind arising, look by faith upon a dying Saviour, 
and ask your own heart, Was not his cross much more 
painful than the bed on which I lie ? Was not his situa- 
tion among blood thirsty enemies infinitely more terri- 
ble than mine amidst the tenderness and care of so ma- 
ny affectionate friends ? Did not the heavy load of my 
sins press him in a much more overwhelming manner 
than I am pressed by the lead of these afflictions ? and 
yet he bore all as a Lamb that is brought t& the slaughter. 
Let the remembrance of his suffering be a mean to 
sweeten yours ; yea, let it cause you to rejoice when 
you are called to bear the cross for a little while, be- 
fore you wear the crown. Count it all joy that you 
have an opportunity yet once more of honoring God by 
you patience^ which is now acting its last part, and will 
in a few days, perhaps in a few hours, be superseded 
by complete everlasting blessedness. And I am willing 
to hope, that in these views you will not only suppress 
all passionate complaints, <but that your mouth will be 
filled with the praises of God ; and that you will be 
speaking to tbtose that are about you, not only of his 
justice, but of his goodness too. So that you will be en- 
abled to communicate your inward joys in such a man* 
ner as may be a lively and edifying comment upon 
those words of the apostle, Tribulation worketh patience; 
and patience, experience ; and experience, hope ; even a 
hope which maketh not ashamed, while the love of God is 
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is giv- 
en unto us. 

7. And now, my dear friend, now is the time, when 
it is especially expected from you thatyou bear an hon- 
orable testimony to religion. Tell those that are 
about you, as well as you can, (for you will never be 
able fully to express it,) what comfort and support you 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOW* ni 

have found in it. Tell them, how it has brightened 
the darkest circumstances of your life ; tell them, how 
it now reconciles you to the near views of death. Your 
words will carry with them a peculiar weight at such a 
season ; there will be a kind of eloquence, even in the 
infirmities with which you are struggling, while you 
give them utterance ; and you will be heard with at- 
tention, with tenderness, with credit. And therefore, 
when the time of your departure is at band, with unaf- 
fected freedom breathe out your joy, if you then feel 
(as 1 hope you wilj) an holy joy and delight in God ; 
Breathe out, however, your inward peace and sereni- 
ty of mind if you be then peaceful and serene ; others 
will mark it, and be encouraged to tread the steps 
which lead to so happy an end. Tell them what you 
feel of the vanity ol the world; and they may learn 
to regard it less; tell them, what you feel of the sub- 
stantial supports of the gospel ; and they may learn to 
value it snore ; for they cannot but know that they 
must lie down upon a dying bed too, and must then 
need all the relief which the gospel itself can give 
them. 

8. And, to enforce the convictioh the more, give i 
solemn charge to those that are about you, that they 
spend their lives in the service of God, and govern 
themselves by the principles of real religion. You 
may remember, that Joshua and David, and other 
good men did so, when they perceived that the day* 
drew near in which they should die. And you know 
not how the admonitions of a dying friend, or (as it 
maybe with respect to some) of a dying parent* may 
impress those who may have disregarded what you and 
others may have said to them before. At least, make 
the trial ; die laboring to glorify God$ to save souls, 
and generously to sow the seeds of goodness and happi- 
ness in a world where you have no more harvests to 
reap. Perhaps they may spring up in a plentiful crop 
when the clods of the valley are covering your body ; 
but if not, God will approve it ; and the angels that 
wait around your bed to receive your departing soul 
will look upon each other with marks of approbation in 
their countenance, and own that this is to expire like 



mn THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

a christian, and to make a glorious improvement of 
mortality. 

9 And, in this last address to your fellow- mortals, 
whoever they are that Providence brings near yon, 
be sure that you tell how entirely and how cheerfully 
yeur hopes and dependance in this season of the last 
extremity are fixed, not upon your own merits and obe- 
dience, but on what the great Redeemer has done and 
suffered for sinners. Let them see that you die, as it 
were, at the foot of the cross ; nothing will be so com- 
fortable to yourself, nothing so edifying to them. Let 
the name of Jesus, therefore, be in your mouth, while 
you are able to speak ; and when you can speak no 
longer, let it be in jour heart, and endeavor that the 
last act of your soul while it continues in the body, may 
be an act of humble faith in Christ. Come unto God 
by him ; enter into that which is within the veil, as with 
the blood of sprinkling fresh upon you. It is an awful 
thing for such a sinner (as yon, my christian friend, 
with all the virtues of the world may have admired, 
know yourself to be) to stand before that infinitely pure 
and holy Being, who has seen all your ways, and all 
your heart, and has a perfect knowledge of every mix- 
ture of imperfection, which has attended the best of 
your duties; but venture in that way, and you will find 
it both safe and pleasant* 

10. Once more: To give you comfort in a dying 
hour, and to support your feeble steps while you are 
travelling through this dark and painful way, take the 
word of God as a staff in your hand. Let books and 
mortal friends, now do their last office for you. Call 
if you can, some experienced christian, who has felt 
th& power of the word of God upon his own heart; and 
let him bring the scripture, and turn you to some of 
those precious promises which have been the food and 
rejoicing of his own soul. It is with this view, thai I 
may carry the good office I am now engaged in. as far 
as possible. I shall here give you a collection of a few 
such admirable scriptures, each of them infinitely more 
valuable than thousands of gold and silver. And to con- 
vince you of the degree in which I esteem them, I will 
take the freedom to add, that I desire they may, (if 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL, 23ft 

God gives an opportunity) be read over to me, as I lie 
on my dying bed with short intervals between them, 
that I may pause upon each, and renew something of 
that delightful relish, which, I bless God^ I have oilen 
found in therrw May your soul and mine be then com* 
posed to a sacred silence (whatever may be the com* 
motion of animal nature) while the voice of God speaks 
to us in language which he spoke to his servants of old, 
or in which he instructed them how they should speak 
to him, in circumstances of the greatest extremity ! 

II. Can any more encouragement be wanting, when 
he says, Fear not* for lammvith thee ; be not dismay ed, 
for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee, yea* I will help 
thee, yea, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my 
righteousness* And he is not a man that he should lie, or 
the son of man that he should repent ; hath he said, and 
shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not 
make it good? The Lord is my light, and my salvation , 
whom shall I fear ? The luord is the strength of my life* 
of whom shall I be afraid ? This God is our God for ever 
tmd etw / he will be our guide even unto death. There' 
fore though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me, thy rod 
mid thy staff they comfort me. I have waited for thy sal- 
vation, O Lord. Oh continue thy loving kindness unto 
them that know thee, and thy righteousness to the upright 
in heart ? For with thee is the fountain of life j in thy 
light shall we see light. Thou wilt shew "me the path of 
life ; in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand 
there are pleasures for ever more. As for me, I shall be- 
hold thy face in righteousness ) I<$hall be satisfied, when I 
awake, with thy likeness. For /; know in whom I have* 
believed, and am persuaded, thai he is able to keep what I 
have committed to him until that day. Therefore my 
heart is glad, and my gloity rejoiceth ; my flesh also shall 
rest in hope. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose 
again j those ako that sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
him. I give unto my sheep eternal life, said Jesus the 
good Shepherd, and they shall never perish, neither shall 
any pluck them out of my hand. This is the will of him 
that sent me, that every one that believeth on me. should have 
Everlasting life ; and 1 will raise him up at the la*t day. 
A A 



890 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 

Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, be* 
lieve also in me. In wv ^ather^s house are many man' 
sions ; if it were not so I would have told you ; I go to 
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place 
for vov I will come again, and receive you to myself ; that 
where I am* there ye may also be. Go, tell my brethren, I 
ascend unto my Father and your Father ; and to my God 
and your God. Father, I will, that those whom thou hast 
given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my 
glory which thou hast given me ; that the love wherewith 
thou hast loved me, msy be in (hem, and I in them. He that 
tesvfieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen, 
even so come, Lord Jesus. O death, where is thy sting ! O 
grave ^ where is thy victory ? Thanks be to God who has 
ghenus the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

12. Thus may that God who knows tha souls of his 
children in all their adversities, and in whose sight the, 
death of his saints is precious, cheer and support j^ou and 
me in those last extremities of nature ! IMay he add us 
to the happjr number of those who have beea mora 
than conquerors ia death ! and may he give us those 
supplies of his Spirit, which may enable us to pour out 
our departing souls in such sentiments as those 1 would 
now suggest ; though we should be no longer able to 
utter words, or to understand them if they were to be 
read to us ! Let us at least review them with all prop- 
er affections now, and lay up one prayer more for that 
awful moment! Oh that this, and all we have ever of- 
fered with regard to it, may then come in remembrance 
before God. 



Meditation and prayer suited to the case of a dying Chris- 
tian. 

O THOU supreme Ruler of the visible and invisible 
worlds ! thou Sovereign of life and of death, of earth* 
and of heaven ! Blessed be thy name, I have often 
been taught to seek thee. And now once more do I 
pour out my soul, my departing soul tmto thee. Bow 
down thy gracious ear, OGod, and let my cry conre be« 
lore thee wkh acceptance I 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. m 

The hour is come when thoa wilt separate me from 
this world, with which I have been so long and so fa- 
miliarly acquainted, and lead me v > another as yet un- 
known. Enable me, I beseech ee, to make the ex- 
change as becomes a child of .braham,who being call- 
ed of thee to receive an inheritance, obeyed, and went out, 
though he knew not particularly whither he went, as be- 
comes a child of God, who know3 that, through sove- 
reign grace, it is his Father's good pleasure to give him 
the kingdom ! 

I acknowledge, O Lord, the justice of that sentence by 
which I am expiring ; and own thy wisdom and good- 
ness in appointing my journey through this gloomy vala 
which is now before me. Help me to turn it into the 
happy occasion of honoring thee, and adorning my pro- 
fession ! and I will bless the pangs by which thou art 
glorified, when this mortal and sinful part of my nature 
is dissolved. 

Gracious Father, I would not quit this earth of thine, 
and this house of clay in which I have sojourned during 
my abode upon the face of it, without my grateful ac- 
knowledgments to thee, for all that abundant goodness 
which thou hast caused to pass before me here. With 
my dying breath I bear witness to thy faithful care. I 
have wanted no good thing. I thank thee, O my God, 
that this guilty, forfeited, unprofitable life, was so long 
spared ; that it has been still maintained by such a rich 
variety of thy bounty. I thank thee that thou hast 
made this beginning of my existence so pleasant to 
me. 1 thank thee for the * mercies of my days and 
nights, of ray months and years, which are now come to 
their period. 1 thank thee for the mercies of my in- 
fancy, and for those of my riper age ; for all the agree- 
able friends which thou hast given me in this house of 
my pilgrimage, the living and the dead ; for all the 
help I have received from others and for all the oppor- 
tunities which thou hast given me of being helpful to 
the bodies or souls of my brethren of mankind. Surely 
goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of 
my life, and I have reason to rise a thankful guest from 
the various and pleasant entertainments with which 
my table has been furnished by thee. Nor shall I have 



2W THE IlISE AND PROGRESS 

reason to repine, or to grieve, at quitting them ; for O 
my God, are thy bounties exhausted ? I know that they 
are not. I will not wrong thy goodness and thy faith- 
fulness so much as to imagine, that because I am going 
from this earth, I am going from happiness. I adore 
thy mercy, that thou hast taught me to entertain no- 
bler views through Jesus thy Son. I bless thee with 
all the powers^)? nature, that I ever heard of his name, 
and of his death ; and would fain exert a more vigor- 
ous act of thankful adoration than in this broken state 
I am capable of, while I am extolling thee for the rich- 
es of thy grace manifested in him ; for his instructions 
and his example, for his blood and his righteousness, 
and for that blessed Spirit of thine which tfccro hast 
given me, to turn my sinful heart unto thyself, and to 
&ring me into the bonds of thy covenant ; of that cove- 
nant which is ordered in all things and sure, and which 
this death, though now separating my soul from my 
body, shall never be able to dissolve. 

I bless thee, O Lord, that I am not dying in an unre- 
generate and impenitent state ! but that thou didst gra- 
ciously awaken and coavince me ; that thou didst re- 
hew and sanctify my heart, and didst by thy good Spirit 
work in it an unfeigned faith, a real repentance, and 
the beginning of a divine life. I thank thee for minis- 
ters and ordinances ; I thank thee for my sabbaths, and 
my sacrament days ; for the weekly and monthly re- 
freshments which they gave me ; I thank thee for the 
fruits of Canaan, which were sent me in the wilderness 
and are now sent me on the brink of Jordan. I thank 
thee for thy blessed word, and for those exceeding rich 
and precious promises of it, which now lie as a cordial 
warm at my heart in this chilling hour ; promises of 
support in death, and of glory beyond it, and of the 
resurrection of my body to everlasting life. O my God, 
I firmly believe them all, great and wonderful as they 
are, and am waiting for the accomplishment of them 
through Jesus Christ s in whom they are all yea and amen. 
Remember thy word unto thy servant, on which thou hast 
caused me to hope ! I covenanted with thee not for world- 
ly enjoyments, which thy love taught me comparatively 
to despise; but for eternal life, as a gift of thy fret 



OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. 293 

grace through Jesus Christ my Lord; and now permit 
me, in his name, to enter my humble claim to it ! Per- 
mit me to consign this departing spirit into thine hand ; 
for thou hast redeemed it, O Lord God of truth ; I am 
thine* save me, and make me happy ! 

But may I indeed presume to say, I am thine I O 
God, now I ana standing on the borders of both worlds ; 
now I view things as in the light of thy presence and 
of eternity ; how unworthy do I appear that I should 
be taken to dwell with thy angels and saints in glory ! 
Alas, I have reason to look back with deep humiliation 
on a poor, unprofitable, sinful life, in which I have dai- 
ly been deserving to be cast into hell. But f have this 
one comfortable reflection, that I have fled to the 
cross of Christ ; and I now renew my application to it. 
To think of appearing before God in such an imperfect 
righteousness as my o.vn, were ten thousand times 
worse than death. No, Lord ! I come unto thee as a 
sinner ; but as a sinner who has believed in thy Son 
for pardon and life, I fall down before thee as a guilty, 
polluted wretch ; but thou hast made him to be unto 
thy people for wisdom and righteousness, for sanctifi- 
cation and redemption. Let me have my lot among 
the followers of Jesus ! Treat me as th'ou treatest 
those who are his friends and his brethren ! For thou 
knowest my soul has loved him, and trusted on him, 
and solemnly vestured itself on the security of his gos- 
pel. And / know in whom I have believed. The infer- 
nal lion may attempt to dismay me ie this awful pas- 
sage ; but I rejoice that I am i» the hands of the good 
Shepherd ; and I defy all my spiritual enemies, in a 
cheerful dependance on his faithful care. I lift up my 
eyes and my heart to him who was dead and is alive 
again ; and behold he lives forevcrmore, and hath the 
keys of death, and of the unseen world. Blessed Jesus, I 
die by thine hand, and I fear no harmfroia the hand of 
a Savipnrl I fear not that death which is allotted to me 
by th*h and of my dearest Lord, who himself died to 
make ^ ^ r ' .1 nappy. I come, Lord, I come, not on» 
ly -vuh** willing hut with a joyful consent. I thank 
the? th?T thou rememberest me for good ; that thou art 
breaking my chains, and calling me to the glorious libw« 
Aa2 



294 *# HE RISE AND PROGRESS. 

. * 
ty of the children of Govt. I thank thee, that thoti wilt 
no longer permit me to live at a distance from thine 
arms ; but after this long absence, wilt have me at 
home, at home forever. 

My feeble nature faints Jn the view of that glory 
which is now dawning upon me ; but thou knowest 
how, gracious Lord, to let it upon my soul by just de- 
grees, and to make thy strength perfect in my weakness. 
Once more, for the last time, would I look down on this 
poor world, which! am going to quit, and breathe out 
my dying vows for its prosperity, and that of thy church 
in it. I have loved it, O Lord, as a living member of 
thy body ! and 1 love it to the last I humbly beseech 
thee, therefore, that than wilt guard it, and purify it, 
and unite it more and more ! Send down more of thy 
blessed Spirit upon it, even the Spirit of thy wisdom, 
of holiness, and of love, till in due time the wilderness 
be turned into a garden of the Lord^ and all flesh shall see 
thy salvation ! 

And as for me, bear me, O heavenly Father, or the 
wjugs of everlasting love, to that peaceful, that holy, 
and joyous abode, which thy mercy has prepared for 
me, and which the blood of my Redeemer hath pur- 
chased U Bear me to the general assembly and church of 
the first born, to the innumerable company of angels, and 
to the spirits of just men made perfect. And whatever 
this flesh may suffer, let my steady soul be delightfully 
fixed on that glory to which it is raised ! Let faith per- 
form its last office in an honorable manner ! Let my few 
remaining moments on earth be spent for thy glory ; 
and so let me ascend, with love in my heart, and praise 
on my faultering tongue, to the world where love and 
praise shall be complete ; Be this my last song on 
earth, which I am going to tune in heaven : Blessing 
and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitUth 
en the throne, and to ih* Lamb forever and ever. Amem 



